For Immediate Release

“I Am Queen Mary Forges Ahead”

Due to a storm in Denmark on December 27, 2020 the monument I Am Queen Mary was severely damaged. The wind severed the chair and took off the head that was attached. Currently, we do not know if these items which were made of polystyrene can be repaired. The temporary monument has been previously damaged in storms and the structure has now been compromised.

We are grateful that the finance committee of the Danish parliament has granted an amount that can secure a part of the cost of creating a new permanent version of the monument that would ensure that the figure be cast in bronze. This donation underlines that a vast majority of the Danish political parties support I Am Queen Mary. We also have received important support from the Ministry of Culture that will assist in making it permanent.

Currently, we are confident that Danish philanthropic foundations will finance a permanent version of the monument and those conversations have already begun. As this is an artwork in the public space, and I Am Queen Mary has been embraced both locally in Denmark and internationally, we are also planning on giving the community the possibility of showing their support through donations during 2021.

We want to emphasize that the damage to I Am Queen Mary is not an act of vandalism, so we kindly ask everyone to not promote any conspiracy theories in this regard.

We also wish to apologize to the residents and visitors of Copenhagen who pass by the monument acknowledging that the sight of the damage is disturbing, therefore we have chosen not to attach an image. We are steadfastly working on a solution, whether the temporary figure is either repaired or temporarily removed as soon as the weather conditions permit.

Thank you very much for your concern and support of this project that brings attention to how our colonial past still has resonance in our present. For more information about the project please visit www.iamqueenmary.com.

Artist La Vaughn Belle

Artist Jeannette Ehlers

Project Manager Anders Juhl