Secular Statuary

The Totems idea began with an architectural and urban design problem - in a contemporary, secular, multicultural society - what takes the place of the statues, crests, obelisks as important objects placed on axes or in niches, or focal points?

Most objects have become “problematic”. Last century’s great philanthropist is this century’s great oppressor. My patron saint is your despised false idol. My symbol for the sun is your nazi flag. As these old symbols are torn down, we are faced with a puzzle: What should replace them?

In the twentieth century, all these symbols of what is important to a society have been replaced, largely with views to nature, fountains, plants or contemporary art, as secular focal points which can avoid dissent and offence. But this approach often leads to blandness and emptiness as the sole point is to deflect any possible tension or conflict.

But whilst our values and knowledge have shifted over time and place, a civil society must be able to agree on some concepts worthy of representation at points of spatial importance. In this time of planetary emergency, we should be erecting objects which arouse our pride, passion and commitment, and embody our love of nature and the planet that sustains us. And even better if rather than just representing these concepts, they embody them, actively improving the very situation we are so concerned about.

Totems for the 21st Century are a proposal to address this issue in a joyful, productive and delightful way.