First the rejection because «sculpture represents respectable but not universally shareable values». Then the reversal of mayor Beppe Sala: «I will ask the commission to review the issue because I don’t think it offends any sensibilities.” TO Milan a controversy has arisen – born “technical” and now political – over the statue created by a deceased artist, Vera Omodeowhose children had asked the Municipality in November for the location in Duse square. The work represents one bare-breasted woman breastfeeding a newborn. It was evaluated by the «commission of art experts for the evaluation of proposals for the placement of artistic artefacts in public spaces» founded in 2015 with the then mayor Giuliano Pisapia and made up of municipal technicians and the Superintendency of Fine Arts. unanimously they have rejected the worksuggesting its location in «a hospital or a religious institute, within which the theme of motherhood is valorised, expressed with exquisitely religious nuances».
«And yet – notes Serena Omodeo, daughter of the sculptor – motherhood is one of the aspects of the quintessence of women. There is nothing religious in the work». «Unacceptable motivations» those of the commission for the municipal councilors of the Democratic Party, Alice Arienta and Luca Costamagna, for which “motherhood as a choice of love and freedom is an asset to be valued”. For another dem, Diana De Marchi, very active in naming women in Milanese toponymy, «we must ensure that more and more female figures are represented in the city». She also raises opposition with the Northern League MEP Silvia Sardone who accuses the Sala council of «the drift of the politically stupid who no longer has boundaries», while from Palazzo Lombardia the councilor for culture Francesca Caruso (FdI) offers a space to the statue because «the woman who breast-feeds her child is part of our identity culture».
But from Palazzo Marino the councilor Tommaso Sacchi announces that we will evaluate «how to give it a place. We don’t want to offend or belittle a generous proposal, in memory of an artist we know.”
