[News Figures] Hank Willis Thomas, Creator of the King Pastor Memorial

124 Billion Won Spent to Create Only Arms Without Body or Face
Criticism Over Resemblance to Obscene Acts from Certain Angles

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] A large bronze monument erected to commemorate American civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King has become embroiled in obscenity controversy. The 6.71-meter-tall bronze sculpture "The Embrace," reportedly costing over 10 million dollars (about 12.4 billion won) to produce, was unveiled to the public in Boston on the 10th.

The sculpture, which lacks a torso and head, has been mocked on social media platforms for resembling a sexual act when viewed from certain angles. Among Reverend King's family members, opinions vary, with some saying there is no problem while others strongly criticize it. Seneca Scott, the niece of Coretta King, Reverend King's wife, condemned the work in an interview with a media outlet, calling it "a waste of 10 million dollars to create a bronze statue of masturbation."

The controversial piece was created by artist Hank Willis Thomas, who mainly addresses socially contentious issues such as various forms of discrimination and gender identity. Born on March 17, 1976, in Plainfield, New Jersey, USA, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and a master's degree in visual and critical studies from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco.

Artist Hank Willis Thomas, who created a large sculpture to commemorate Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The keyword symbolizing his work is discrimination. He particularly captures cultural discrimination present in all aspects of daily life related to race and transforms it into art. He is also active politically. In 2015, he co-founded the first unlimited political action committee run by artists. His philosophy is known to be using the power of art to amplify political voices.

His works are created in a studio in Harlem and are exhibited in diverse spaces, including the Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan. He is also actively working in other countries such as Paris, France.

Regarding the sculpture that sparked the obscenity controversy, Thomas strongly refuted the criticism, stating that the work is not simply representing Reverend King and his wife but symbolizes "the power of love." He also emphasized that public monuments, including the Vietnam War Memorial, have always been met with criticism and that he has no intention of modifying the piece. Martin Luther King III expressed strong agreement with Thomas's position. He said, "The artist created an excellent work," adding, "Although it does not depict my parents, it is a piece that can unite many people."