Public statues and monuments are part of the fabric of our everyday lives. We might jog past them, meet our friends there, or even busk in front of them. But whatever we do near them they can often sink into the background and become invisible parts of our reality. So this raises two important questions; why do monuments matter? And, more importantly, why should we be establishing new monuments?
Our exciting NFT collaboration with the Women’s Monument Foundation in the US has reignited these questions for us. This foundation is on a mission to provide a national monument in Washington D.C to remember the fight for women’s suffrage which celebrated its centenary in 2020. With this project, we will create a new NFT community of ‘modern rebels’ for this project that will support the development of this monument by 2027. Here are five reasons why we urge you to join the movement:
1. Storytelling
The word ‘monument’ derives from the Latin verb ‘moneo’ which directly translates to the word ‘to remind’. Monuments are the tangible forms of a story about the past, whether that is a person, an event, or a movement. For the Women’s Monument in Washington, the story it tells is about the struggles and bravery of the women who fought for women's rights and were able to be catalysts for future generations across the world to establish their autonomy as human beings. In this way, monuments are the physical materialisations of our past and who helped to create the society that we live in today.
2. Community Value
As a storytelling device, monuments are also a source of cultural and collective memory which can be a powerful tool in bringing communities together. Monuments remind us collectively of our past and what binds us together, they can also provide those important moments of collective reflection. Moreover, monuments like the Women’s monument, which are built and supported by a community create more of a permanence to this collective memory.
3. ‘Let’s Make History’
Less than 5% of outdoor monuments in the US tell women’s stories. For the women’s monument foundation this was not good enough, nor was it enough for Congress who unanimously passed the bill for this monument making it the fastest bill to pass through Congress for a monument project ever. Young women and girls should be able to visit Washington D.C. and see themselves represented in this space. This is why we need to change that percentage and make those ‘hidden histories’ visible in mainstream consciousness and create a more representative culture in monuments.
4. For the Present
Monuments are not just there to remember but also to inspire and the women’s suffrage movement offers a wealth of inspirational stories which we can learn about today. Indeed, this movement is the longest social and political movement in American history and yet many remain unaware of the key pioneers or events. Creating a women’s suffrage monument re-highlights this important part of our history and encourages us to learn and recognise the passion and sacrifice these women gave. Their endurance and grit can give us the strength to fight for our own passions and values in today’s society.
5. For the Future
Most importantly, monuments have a permanence which will outlast all of us who choose to support the development of this monument today. Therefore, by supporting this initiative, we can also inspire future generations and empower them to continue the fight for equality across the world.
