Anything to say? a Monument to Courage, Berlin, Alexanderplatz May 1st, 2015 HD

a Monument to Courage “Anything to say?”, is a life size bronze sculpture, portraying three figures each one standing on a chair. The fourth chair is empty because it is our chair. The one for us to stand up on to express ourselves or simply to stand next to Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning, who had the courage to say no to the intrusion of global surveillance and to lies that lead to war. Both loved and hated, they chose to loose the comfort zone of their lives to tell the truth. The work has been inspired by Charles Glass, author, journalist and broadcaster, and brought to life by artist Davide Dormino who believes in the power of Public Art. « It has the power to make people grow and change their point of view. The chair has a double meaning. It can be comfortable, but it can also be a pedestal to rise higher, to get a better view, to learn more. They all chose to get up on the chairs of courage. They made their move in spite of becoming visible, thus threatened and judged. Some think they are traitors. History never had a positive opinion of contemporary revolutionaries. You need courage to act, to stand up on that empty chair because it hurts.» On May 1st on the historical Alexanderplatz, in Berlin, the sculpture was unveiled by Patrick Bradatsch together with artist Davide Dormino, the speakers, the journalists and those who joined the event. Many people surrounded the sculpture, in turn stepping up on the chair to speak, or just to show their support. The speakers at the event who stood up on the chair armed with megaphones were: Davide Dormino, sculptor, Michel Rediske for Reporters without Frontiers, Hans Christian Strobele from the German green party, Sarah Harrison for Wikileaks, Annie Machon, former MI5 intelligence officer, Ulrich Schreiber, director of Berlin International Literature Festival, Anjhula Mya Singh Bais actress and human rights activist. The journey has begun. Dresden this summer, Switzerland in the autumn, Italy. The sculpture does not indorse any specific political ideals or religious beliefs, neither does it belongs to any specific country. Courage is for all. The project was born from the enthusiasm of a group of ordinary people who believe that courage is contagious. The project was born from the enthusiasm of a group of people who are constantly working on the itinerary of the sculpture and the free-speech events linked to it. The sculpture was created in the ancient Mariani Foundry of Pietrasanta, a place where artistic and artisanal culture still lives and breathes. www.anythingtosay.com