Melania Statue Destroyed by Arson in Slovenia... Rebuilt in Bronze

▲A bronze statue of Melania Trump, wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, has been recreated and reinstalled in her homeland, Slovenia.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A statue of Melania Trump, wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, which was destroyed by arson two months ago, has been reinstalled in her home country Slovenia. This time, it was made of bronze instead of wood to prevent damage.

According to the British daily The Guardian on the 15th (local time), a new statue unveiling ceremony was held in Ro?no, southeastern Slovenia, near Melania's hometown.

The statue unveiled at the ceremony, attended by residents of Sevnica, Melania's hometown, was reinstalled on the same log pedestal where the previous wooden statue stood, and was made to closely resemble the original wooden statue. However, this time it was made of fire-resistant bronze.

The bronze statue was created by Brad Downey, an artist from Kentucky, USA, who made the previous wooden statue, along with Slovenian craftsman Ale? Meksi ?upev?.

Downey, currently active in Germany, explained in an interview with a German art magazine last month, "I made it as durable and sturdy as possible so it cannot be arbitrarily damaged."

He also denied suspicions that the arson was encouraged as part of the artistic process, saying, "I did not set the fire, nor did I ask anyone else to do so."

He interpreted the arson of the wooden statue as a kind of symbol reflecting political tensions in the United States.

The burnt statue was exhibited earlier this month at a gallery within a Slovenian resort.

Downey and ?upev? erected the wooden statue last year to highlight the contradiction of Melania, an immigrant, marrying Trump, who insists on anti-immigration policies, but it was damaged by arson on July 4th, the U.S. Independence Day, and subsequently removed.

The life-sized statue of Melania faced criticism upon its unveiling last year for not resembling her at all, being called a "scarecrow" and a "Smurf," among other insults.