Rumors of War facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rumors of War |
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Rumors of War two weeks after its unveiling at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia in December 2019.
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| Artist | Kehinde Wiley |
| Year | 2019 |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Dimensions | 27 feet (8.2 m) tall & 16 feet (4.9 m) long |
| Location | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
Rumors of War is a huge bronze statue created by the artist Kehinde Wiley. It shows a young African-American man riding a horse. This artwork is part of a larger series by Wiley. He made it to explore how people are shown on horseback in art history.
Wiley created this statue as a response to older statues. Many cities in the United States have statues of Confederate generals. These generals fought for the South during the American Civil War. Some people want these statues removed. Wiley's artwork makes us think about who we honor with statues.
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About the Statue
The Rumors of War statue is very tall. It stands about 27 feet (8.2 meters) high. It is also 16 feet (4.9 meters) long. This makes it the largest artwork Wiley has ever made.
The statue shows a young man with dreadlocks. He is wearing modern clothes like jeans and Nike high-top sneakers. He is riding a powerful horse. The statue sits on a limestone base. The words "Rumors of War" are carved into this base.
Why This Statue Was Made
Kehinde Wiley made Rumors of War to challenge old ideas. Many statues of people on horses show powerful leaders from the past. These often include generals or kings. Wiley wanted to show a modern, everyday person in this powerful way.
He specifically thought about the statue of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond had many such statues. Wiley's artwork offers a new way to think about history and heroes. Since his statue was put up, many of the old Confederate statues in Richmond have been taken down.
Where the Statue Was Displayed
The Rumors of War statue was first shown in Times Square in New York City. This happened in September 2019. It was a big event with a high school band playing music. The statue stood among all the bright electronic billboards.
From New York to Virginia
The statue stayed in Times Square until December 2019. After that, it moved to its permanent home. It is now at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. This museum is in the same city where many Confederate statues once stood.
The statue was shown again in Richmond on December 10, 2019. It is now a very important part of the museum's collection. It was the most expensive artwork the museum has ever bought.
The Meaning of the Title
Kehinde Wiley first used the title "Rumors of War" in 2006. He used it for a series of paintings. These paintings also looked at old European horse portraits.
The title might also come from a Bible passage. This passage talks about "wars and rumors of wars." It suggests that these things will happen in the world. By using this title, Wiley might be asking us to think about conflict and change.
