Ostend halts Hew Locke sculpture recontextualising Leopold II statue
Ostend, Belgium, has put a stop to a project initiated in 2023 for a new sculpture by Hew Locke intended to reinterpret an equestrian statue of former King Leopold II. This initiative sought to confront the harsh colonial legacy of Leopold II, who governed the Congo Free State (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1885 to 1908, a period notorious for forced labor, torture, and amputations. Although Ostend opted to retain the Leopold II monument while commissioning a contextual artwork in 2023, the newly elected city council in 2024 halted the installation, citing a lack of public backing and consultation, according to council member Judith Ooms. Alternative ideas are still being considered, following earlier protests and the removal of Leopold II statues throughout Belgium.
Key facts
- Hew Locke sculpture in Ostend halted by new city council elected in 2024.
- Commissioned in 2023 to recontextualise equestrian statue of Leopold II.
- Leopold II ruled Congo Free State (1885-1908) with extreme brutality.
- Locke's proposal selected from eleven works exhibited at Royal Galleries in Ostend.
- Project consisted of five pillars topped with gold sculptures referencing colonial history.
- Judith Ooms claimed insufficient consultation with residents.
- Installation was set for later this year but stopped.
- Alternative proposals are being explored.
Entities
Artists
- Hew Locke
Institutions
- City of Ostend
- Royal Galleries in Ostend
Locations
- Ostend
- Belgium
- Congo Free State
- Democratic Republic of the Congo