In Incheon, a sculpture of a love gesture was covered after complaints — Korea Herald
In Incheon, South Korea, authorities covered a large hand sculpture with a tarpaulin on the waterfront in Songdo after complaints from residents who considered its gesture offensive. The installation was intended to reproduce the American Sign Language gesture for “I love you,” Korea Herald reports.
Sculpture on the Songdo waterfront
The object, measuring four to five meters in height and about three meters in width, was installed this month in Long Beach Park in the Landmark City district in northern Songdo. The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority installed it as a photo spot for visitors.
The hand has its thumb, index finger and little finger extended, while the middle and ring fingers are bent. The sculpture was made of glass fiber-reinforced concrete. According to officials, its production cost about 200 million won, or $144,000.
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Residents’ and deaf community’s reaction
Some Songdo residents said that from a distance, the installation resembles an obscene gesture with a raised middle finger. One resident also saw similarities to a gesture associated with Ilbe, an ultraright online community known for misogynistic and other hateful content.
Amid the complaints, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority enclosed the sculpture with a temporary fence, covered it and began work on modifications. An authority official said that the authorities plan to better explain the installation’s concept to residents, including by installing an information sign.
At the same time, the Yeonsu District branch of the Incheon Association of the Deaf said that the sculpture should not simply be removed. The community stressed that a clearer explanation of its meaning could help promote sign language, disability awareness and intercultural communication among visitors to Incheon.
