Monuments commemorating the Irish Famine: Symbolizing Human Rights ¹

Kirk Savage aptly points out the shockingly recent appearance of therapeutic monuments, which he defines as “a monument whose primary goal is not to celebrate heroic service or sacrifice, as the traditional didactic monument does, but rather to heal a collective psychological injury” (p.106).  Savage argues that therapeutic monuments only sprang up after the Vietnam War (notice the coinciding with the propagation of human rights).

To that point, let us take a look at Dublin’s Famine Memorial, erected in 1997 by Rowan Gillespie (an Irish artist):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh-8bxi4T8o  ²

The Famine Memorial

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Gillespie also erected the following monument in one of Toronto’s quayside parks in 2007 (Canada received an influx of Irish immigrants as a result of the Famine):

Toronto Famine Memorial

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Gillespie’s monuments hold significant places in both Toronto and Dublin, providing tangible reminders to millions of inhabitants and tourists about the lasting impact of the Irish Potato Famine.  Moreover, the memorials depict various casts of people affected by the famine, effectively illustrating the disaster’s effects on all members of society.  The artist provides faces to the victims of a disaster long past, immortalizing the collective humanities of those lost in the famine and reminding us of the dire necessity to respect each other’s intrinsic rights.