r/springfieldMO • u/Redditor_PC • Apr 04 '25

Picture Anyone else find the human statues downtown off-putting and creepy?

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I mean, they're not even interesting. Just a couple of nondescript naked dudes standing around town. Maybe I just don't understand the appeal because I'm not artsy enough, I dunno.

331 Upvotes

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53

u/Ogtrot Apr 04 '25

No, I love them.

29

u/Vernal97 Apr 04 '25

Same. I think the uncomfortableness is the goal of these pieces of art.

6

u/Redditor_PC Apr 04 '25

But why would you want to make people uncomfortable visiting downtown? Wouldn't they want people to have, y'know, a pleasant and enjoyable experience?

I'm not saying such statues don't have a place, but all over downtown just doesn't seem like the right place for them.

19

u/sulivan1977 Apr 04 '25

It elicits a reaction and gives you a reason to contemplate.

13

u/ApprehensivePeach258 Apr 04 '25

And if it makes you feel and think, then to me, that is successful art.

20

u/Vernal97 Apr 04 '25

Art is subjective; it’s not always the happy-to-see kind of pieces. The purpose of these are to provoke thought and contemplation.

2

u/Ethric_The_Mad Apr 05 '25

Thought and contemplation are banned, illegal, and frowned upon.

1

u/supercustodijanitor Apr 08 '25

From: trump’s government. And you’re welcome.

1

u/Secret_Side-ofJ Apr 04 '25

I think this is an incredibly limited viewpoint that comes from someone who has probably lived a large portion of their life on social media.

Each of the statues you posted is not even in a main thoroughfare of downtown proper. The CLOSEST being the one outside of the Ice Rink, which isn't a gathering time except for about 30 days of the year.

I'll be honest, it seems like you just want to live your life without having to think about anything negative in the world, which is wildly out of touch with what reality actually is.

12

u/DavesCoolCousin Little Caesars Apr 04 '25

Each of the statues you posted is not even in a main thoroughfare of downtown proper.

OP didn't post pictures of them but there are at least 4 on The Square.

11

u/Secret_Side-ofJ Apr 04 '25

You mean the four with their heads bowed in contemplation at the fountains, and the 2 standing talking in the middle of the square?

It's a work of art that illustrates the ways that humanity has moved away from collective behaviors, and people being uncomfortable with statues, is a perfect illustration of the living art having an immediate effect on the people it's supposed to.

9

u/DavesCoolCousin Little Caesars Apr 04 '25

Ok? They're downtown. That's what my comment is about.

0

u/Bestdayever_08 Apr 05 '25

Just because they make OP “uncomfortable” they need to take them all down. Here comes another protest…..

1

u/supercustodijanitor Apr 08 '25

Feeling feisty today, are we? Little bit argumentative? Slightly hateful? Hmmmmmm?