Maitland city council has condemned an art exhibit challenging the 150-year-old figure, which the artist says ‘does not represent Black skin with any dignity’
-
Warning: This article contains outdated and offensive language
-
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
A 150-year-old statue of an enslaved African American child in the middle of a regional Australian town has ignited a furore over race, censorship and what defines art.
Originally designed as a hitching post for horses, the statue later became a Maitland landmark, with images of the boy reproduced on postcards, teaspoons and other memorabilia.