Tumbling Woman?

[Karin Wells]

After 9/11, I was one of those who read the daily mini-bios of those who lost their lives in that tragedy. And it made a profound impact on me. Their lives weren't just about being "victims." Each and every one had been a living, breathing, magnificent human being.
At funerals we usually remember and celebrate the good parts of the life of the deceased...and we seldom dwell on the horrible way they died. Imagine the family's outrage if we did otherwise?

I think that "tumbling woman" is unfortunate in that its focus is on the exact method and moment of death...and in no way reminds us of any individual prior existence of those who died so tragically on September 11th.

I think that the reason I broke down and cried in front of the powerful Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC is because each and every person who died is remembered and honored equally with the dignity they deserve.

"Tumbling Woman," and others of that ilk that depict a suffering victim don't impress me much. They don't depict a life that really seems to matter....except in the manner of their death. Forever and always they narrowly define some poor soul as a "victim" whereas in reality, we are all so very much more than just that.

I feel that Fischl's work is fine as artistic sculpture...but as a concept for a memorial, this piece is insensitive and therefore I find it tasteless.