The elusive artist or artists known for creating a controversial bronze feces sculpture on a replica of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk have made headlines again with a new installation. This time, they have erected a tiki torch statue titled The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame in Freedom Plaza, just blocks from the White House.
This latest piece serves as a pointed satire, drawing parallels to the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which occurred in August 2017. At that rally, white nationalists marched with tiki torches, chanting phrases like “Jews will not replace us.” The new installation not only references that dark chapter in American history but also the remarks made by former President Donald Trump, who infamously described some attendees as “very fine people.” The accompanying plaque pays homage to those sentiments, stating, “This monument pays tribute to President Donald Trump and the ‘very fine people’ he boldly stood to defend when they marched in Charlottesville.”
In a further nod to Trump’s controversial comments about the rally, the plaque adds that while many labeled the participants as white supremacists, Trump claimed they were “treated absolutely unfairly.” The piece is designed as a reminder of that defense, particularly as political tensions rise in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
The timing of this installation coincides with a surge in artistic expression addressing current political climates, with artists employing satire to comment on the impending election. For instance, a giant model of a naked Trump was recently displayed on a highway outside Las Vegas, inciting complaints from local Republican officials.
The tiki torch, which carries historical implications tied to the Nazi regime in 1930s Germany, had been relegated to non-political uses until the events in Charlottesville reinvigorated its sinister associations. Following the rally, Tiki Brand Products distanced itself from the rally, expressing disappointment over its products being used in such a manner.
Civic Crafted LLC, responsible for both the feces piece and the tiki torch sculpture, received a temporary display permit from the U.S. National Park Service, which stated it does not assess the content of the displayed messages when granting permissions.
While the feces sculpture attracted significant attention and drew crowds, with vandals quickly removing Pelosi's name from the desk, the tiki torch installation initially went largely unnoticed, according to reports. However, Eric Brewer, a passerby, praised its placement and timing, calling it a “perfect piece of satirical sculpture” that serves as a warning of potential future political scenarios.
The park service has allowed the tiki torch statue to remain on display until Thursday, adding another layer of commentary to an already charged political landscape.
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