Arturo Di Modica

Arturo Di Modica

Bund Bull
Born (1941-01-26) January 26, 1941
Vittoria, Sicily
Nationality Italian
Notable work Charging Bull

Arturo Di Modica (born January 26, 1941) is an Italian artist, born in Vittoria, Sicily who became a naturalized US citizen. He is best known for his sculpture Charging Bull (also known as the Wall Street Bull, in reference to Wall Street), which he installed without permission in front of the New York Stock Exchange in December 1987.[1][2] The work cost US$350,000 of the artist's own money. The three-ton bronze piece is in its current location on loan to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.[1][3] In 2017, Di Modica opposed the installation of the Fearless Girl sculpture across from his bull,[3] calling it an "advertising trick" created by State Street Global and the advertising firm McCann.[4]

Di Modica installed a second similar version of the Charging Bull, nicknamed as Bund Bull, in Shanghai in May 2010; it draws from Western and Chinese culture and looks younger and stronger.

Controversy

Modica has said that he views the bull as a symbol of freedom and love, but to many, the Wall Street bull has become a symbol of Wall Street greed and excess. The statue of the little girl was initially only scheduled to be there for a week but was extended until the end of the year after it stoked a viral internet sensation. Many people found the visual of a small girl standing defiantly across from a symbol of Wall Street excess powerful. Modica has said he will use the courts if needed to have the "Fearless Girl" statue removed. [5][6]

The sculpture became part of an image macro put out by Adbusters that publicized Occupy Wall Street, featuring a ballerina posed atop it with the text "What Is Our One Demand: #OccupyWallStreet / September 17th. / Bring Tent."[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 McKee, Yates (2016). Strike Art: Contemporary Art and the Post-Occupy Condition. Verso Books. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-78478-188-0.
  2. ↑ Nevius, Michelle; Nevius, James (March 24, 2009). Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City. Simon and Schuster. p. 285. ISBN 978-1-4165-8997-6. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Stack, Liam (27 March 2017). "‘Fearless Girl’ Statue to Stay in Financial District (for Now)". New York Times. New York.
  4. ↑ Dobnik, Verena. "NYC's 'Charging Bull' sculptor accuses NYC of violating his rights with 'Fearless Girl'". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
  5. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/nyregion/charging-bull-sculpture-wall-street-fearless-girl.html
  6. ↑ http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2017/0414/Can-the-Charging-Bull-sculptor-control-his-artwork-s-meaning


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