Project
"ANYTHING TO SAY?"
A MONUMENT TO COURAGE.
"Anything to say?", is a life size bronze sculpture, portraying three figures each one standing on a chair. The fourth chair is empty because it is our chair. The one for us to stand up on to express ourselves or simply to stand next to Edward Snowden, Julien Assange and Chelsea Manning, who had the courage to say no to the intrusion of global surveillance and to lies that lead to war. Both loved and hated, they chose to loose the comfort zone of their lives to tell the truth.
The work has been inspired by Charles Glass, author, journalist and broadcaster, and brought to life by artist Davide Dormino who believes in
the power of Public Art. « It has the power to make people grow and change their point of view. The chair has a double meaning. It can be comfortable, but it can also be a pedestal to rise higher, to get a better view, to learn more. They all chose to get up on the chairs of courage. They made their move in spite of becoming visible, thus threatened and judged. Some think they are traitors. History never had a positive opinion of contemporary revolutionaries. You need courage to act, to stand up on that empty chair because it hurts.»
Tour
May 1st-2nd, Alexanderplatz, Berlin
On May 1st on the historical Alexanderplatz, in Berlin, the sculpture was unveiled by Patrick Bradatsch together with artist Davide Dormino, the speakers, the journalists and those who joined the event. Many people surrounded the sculpture, in turn stepping up on the chair to speak, or just to show their support.
The speakers at the event who stood up on the chair armed with megaphones were: Davide Dormino, sculptor, Michel Rediske for Reporters without Frontiers, Hans Christian Strobele from the German green party, Sarah Harrison for Wikileaks, Annie Machon, former MI5 intelligence officer, Ulrich Schreiber, director of Berlin International Literature Festival, Anjhula Mya Singh Bais actress and human rights activist.
The journey has begun. Dresden this summer, Switzerland in the autumn, Paris
The sculpture does not indorse any specific political ideals or religious beliefs, neither does it belongs to any specific country.
Courage is for all.
The project was born from the enthusiasm of a group of ordinary people who believe that courage is contagious.
Place Klèber, Strasbourg
Place Georges-Pompidou, Paris
Alexanderplatz, Berlin
OTHER TOUR
2016
December 6-13 Sapienza University, P.le Aldo Moro, Rome, Italy
July 8-16 Mesti trg Square, Ptuj, Slovenija
June 8-16 Dev9t Festival, Belgrade, Serbia
April 6-10 IV Novembre, Perugia, Italy, (International Journalism Festival)
March 9-14 Train Station, Tours, France (Assises du Journalisme)
2015
November 16-21 Place Klèber, Strasbourg (Forum Mondial de la Démocratie)
September 23-29 Place Georges-Pompidou, Paris
September 14-18 Places des Nations, Geneva
July 10 - September 1st Theaterplatz, Ostrale-Dresden - www.ostrale.de
May 3rd ufaFabrik-Internationales Kultur Centrum, Berlin
May 1st Alexanderplatz, Berlin
«Stand up for your rights»
Thanks to Assange, Snowden and Manning, you know the limits of freedom.
You know you are spied on every hour of every day. You know how governments
kill and torture alleged enemies.
Chelsea Manning is serving thirty-five years in
an American federal prison. Julian Assange has been confined in England for
four years without a single charge brought against him. Edward Snowden is
trapped in Moscow. We will honour their courage by erecting a monument,
designed by Italian sculptor Davide Dormino.
Most statues in public spaces commemorate warriors.
The
Dormino statue pays homage to three who said no to war, to the lies that lead
to war and to the intrusion into private life that helps to perpetuate war. Manning,
Assange and Snowden accepted their loss of freedom. While you remain free,
thank them by erecting this reminder that we can refuse to collaborate with
unaccountable power.
CHARLES GLASS
They said and are paying for it
Julian Assange, born in 1971, publisher and journalist, is
best known as the editor-in-chief of the whistleblower website
WikiLeaks which he co-founded in 2006. WikiLeaks achieved
particular prominence in 2010 when it published US military
and diplomatic documents leaked by Chelsea Manning.
« To keep a person ignorant is to place them in a cage.»
Chelsea Manning, born in 1987, is a US soldier assigned
in 2009 to an army unit in Iraq as an intelligence analyst.
Manning had access to classified database which he leaked
in 2010 to WikiLeaks.
« I am the type of person who likes to know how things work. And, as an analyst, this means I always want to figure out the truth.»
Edward Snowden, born in 1983, is an American computer
professional. He worked for the CIA (Central Intelligence
Agency), the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) and the
private intelligence contractor Dell, inside a National Security
Agency outpost in Japan. In 2013, he released numerous
NSA documents to the press.
« I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded.»
Follow us on Facebook
Davide Dormino, born in 1973, is
an Italian sculptor. His works are both
in private collections worldwide and
public spaces. In 2011, he created
the monument for the victims of
Port au Prince's earthquake in Haiti,
commissioned by the United Nations.
Charles Glass, born in 1951, is
an American author, journalist and
broadcaster specializing in the Middle
East. He writes for 
Get on the chair and tell the world
