Obsolescent
–Obsolescent–
Adjective :
To become outdated or outmoded.
To pass out of use due to being no longer required.
An anti police brutality protest toy Art piece.
Vinyl toy parts, Acrylic, Styrene, Walnut, Brass, Epoxy, Aluminium, Lead, Leather, Found Objects.
10.5″ tall by 8.5″ wide. (On base.)
Truncheon and shield locate with magnets.
The figure is removable from the base.
Watching what seems to be an unending series of images and film clips showing people of colour being harassed, brutalised and murdered by militarised police has thoroughly sickened and dismayed me for some time.
I felt compelled to respond in some way with my art.
No civilised country requires a police force with front line military grade equipment. But this is sadly becoming more and more common. The funds used to create these forces could be far better spent on social housing and community support projects which would bolster a better, brighter future for all. Rather than fuel a darker, more oppressive future for many.
Research shows the intolerable extent and insane sums involved in this corrupt system of control :
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/05/why-are-some-us-police-forces-equipped-like-military-units?CMP=share_btn_tw
That Police departments with more military equipment tend to kill more people :
https://theconversation.com/police-with-lots-of-military-gear-kill-civilians-more-often-than-less-militarized-officers-141421
Also the (possibly not surprising) fact that most heavily armed police forces are also directly funded by the fossil fuel industry :
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/27/fossil-fuels-oil-gas-industry-police-foundations?CMP=share_btn_tw
I hope that images of this work (for which I give permission to free use in aid of this cause) somehow help promote the concept of defunding the militarised police forces around the world. And increase awareness of the excessive brutality that comes with them, disproportionately targeted at non-white citizens.
(In the USA you are three times more likely to be shot by police if you are black.) : https://mappingpoliceviolence.org/
Protests against police violence and racist social injustice have been on the increase throughout this year. And sadly the police brutality has increased along with them.
I intend to sell the piece with all the funds raised donated to causes helping to dismantle this system and aid people directly effected by it.
Campaign Zero : https://www.joincampaignzero.org/
The Anti Police -Terror Project : https://www.antipoliceterrorproject.org/
Defending Rights & Dissent : https://rightsanddissent.org/
I will be taking bids for the piece in an open auction on my Instagram feed over the week 24th – 30th August. With the highest bid at 9pm UK time on the final day (Sunday 30th) securing the item.
After shipping costs and bank/Paypal fees are accounted for the remainder of the money will be donated to causes related to this endeavour.
Please consider bidding and helping with this cause.
