Monument making in contemporary democracies is characterized by two trends: monuments that have fallen out of favour are removed, restaged, and recontextualized but the genre has also been reassessed and reinvigorated through the creation of new designs and uses. This international, interdisciplinary cooperation between an art historian and a historical geographer treats the seemingly opposing developments as indicators of a democratic shift within monument making, and more broadly in society.
Through a macro study of global patterns, and a series of micro studies from Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, this research brings both trends together and investigates how they align with changing expectations of the role of citizens within democracies as agents who actively shape collective memory and urban space. Drawing on field studies, archival and media sources, interviews with artists and commissioners alongside audience reception, the project uncovers different strategies used to express, negotiate and develop ideas of democratic representation and participation through monument making.
At a time of enormous interest in monuments and democracy, this project will provide a comprehensive investigation of monuments’ democratic potential. By examining the interplay of monuments, public space and changing ideas of the role of citizens, it will convey new knowledge on the monument genre, as well as important insights into democracy’s current crisis and resilience.
This project has previously been hosted by Stockholm University and has been going on since 2023.
