24 April 2006
Source:
Photo Pelikana on Wikipedia
Emotions ran high when a monument in honour of Anton de Kom was unveiled in Amsterdam. The Surinamese Anton de Kom (1898-1945) was a communist resistance fighter and the author of a book, Wij slaven van Suriname, on slavery in the Dutch colony Suriname.
De Kom was always impeccably dressed, in a suit and hat, but the artist (mrs Jikke van Loon) chose to depict him dressed only in a loincloth. The Comité Waardig Standbeeld van Anton de Kom [Committee to Raise a Respectful Monument to Anton de Kom] was infuriated and disappointed: “Anton de Kom is the personification of anti-colonialism. It is insulting to depict this man half naked and with oversized genitals.” (de Volkskrant 24 April 2006)