Gold-plated and holding golf club: Trump statue installed in European Parliament
Donald Trump became the subject of a 2.6-meter-tall gold statue in Strasbourg (Photo: facebook.com/jens.galschiot)
A 2.6-meter-tall gold statue of US President Donald Trump has been installed inside the European Parliament building in Strasbourg. The provocative work by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt is titled The Orange Plague, according to The Art Newspaper.
What the Trump statue looks like
The figure of the US president is covered in 23-karat gold leaf. Trump is sitting on the shoulders of a much smaller, emaciated man who is bending under his weight.
In one hand, he holds the scales of justice, while in the other, he holds a long golf club.
A small globe the size of a golf ball has been placed at the feet of the man carrying the president.
The sculpture’s pedestal bears the inscription: "I am sitting on the back of a man. He is sinking under my burden. I will do anything to help him. Except stepping down from his back."
Donald Trump became the subject of a 2.6-meter-tall gold statue in Strasbourg (Photo: facebook.com/jens.galschiot)
What The Orange Plague means
According to Jens Galschiøt, the sculpture is a satirical statement against the Trump administration’s foreign and climate policies.
The image also refers to Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Emperor’s New Clothes, in which only a child dares to tell the truth about the ruler’s appearance.
The artist chose the gold coating because of Trump’s fondness for gilded decor.
The artist explained that he wanted to make the president’s image so shiny that it would symbolically be impossible to see other people behind him.
The sculpture was brought to the European Parliament at the invitation of Danish MEP Per Clausen.
Donald Trump became the subject of a 2.6-meter-tall gold statue in Strasbourg (Photo: facebook.com/jens.galschiot)
It was the centerpiece of a three-day exhibition and remained in Strasbourg until October 8.
For visitors, Galschiøt also prepared around 20,000 miniature copies of the work, printed using 3D printers. They were handed out to guests and European Parliament staff.
Earlier, The Orange Plague was displayed at the UN climate summit in Brazil and during protests in Copenhagen against Trump’s claims to Greenland.
Next month, the sculpture is scheduled to be presented at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye.
