Anything to Say?

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Anything to say? – A monument to courage
The sculpture in Berlin's Alexanderplatz on May Day 2015.
Artist	Davide Dormino
Year	2015
Type	sculpture
Medium	Bronze
Website	http://www.anythingtosay.com/

Anything to Say? is an itinerant bronze sculpture and art installation by Italian artist which was placed in Berlin's Alexanderplatz on May Day 2015. It features the whistleblowers Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, and Chelsea Manning standing on three chairs; the entire installation, which includes a fourth, empty chair meant as a platform for public speaking, is to go on a global tour. The fourth empty chair invites individuals "to stand up instead of sitting like the others". The installation was unveiled by "ANYTHINGTOSAY," a private art project supported with an international crowdfunding.^[1] In 2016 was awarded the Prix Éthique 2016 by Anticor for Anything to Say?^{[citation needed]}

Message[]

"A lot of people say they are traitors, but I want to celebrate these living heroes," Davide Dormino says. "My work is a monument to the future."^[2] Davide Dormino's sculpture, Anything to say?", symbolizes the courage of whistleblowers and all those who fight to defend freedom of expression and information throughout the world. It travels from city to city to remind the public about the massive invasions of privacy, the information control and the disinformation to which they are subjected by governments and corporations, and about their democratic and legitimate right to know. Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden were chosen as examples of contemporary heroes who have put themselves in danger in order to reveal information and shed light on events that were hidden or misrepresented. Like them, countless citizens all over the world put their freedom, courage and integrity in the service of truth.^[3] The sculpture is supported by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an NGO that defends media freedom.

Berlin – Alexanderplatz[]

On May 1, 2015 on the historical Alexanderplatz, in Berlin, the sculpture was unveiled by Patrick Bradatsch 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, for Reporters without Frontiers, Hans Christian Ströbele from the German Green Party, Sarah Harrison for , Annie Machon, ex former MI5 intelligence officer, Ulrich Schreiber, director of Berlin International Literature Festival, actress and human rights activist. The sculpture does not endorse any specific political ideals or religious beliefs, neither does it belong 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.

Dresden – Theaterplatz[]

The sculpture has been exhibited in Dresden on June 1 in the Theaterplatz for the International week to support Whistleblowing celebrated all over the world from June 1 to 7, 2015.

After Dresden, the sculpture has been exhibited to Ostrale 015, till September 2015. Ostrale 2015 is a famous art event whose aim is stimulating the dialogue among several artistic disciplines and different artistic fields for those artists who are interested in networking and connecting with people who not necessarily belong to the art system.

Geneva – Place des Nations[]

The sculpture stopped in Geneva during the 30th session of the Human Rights Council, on the from September 14 to 18, just in front of the United Nations building.^[4] The support Committee for the event in Geneva is composed of the NGO Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), of the (CIPADH), of , Pilar Ackermann, Fabio Lo Verso, Charly Pache and of the representative of a group of citizens that contributed to the realisation of the project, Marco Benagli.

Paris – Georges Pompidou Centre[]

The Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris displayed the sculpture from September 23 to 29 in the square in front of the centre, where the display was inaugurated on September 23 in the presence of Dormino, Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire, UBS whistleblower Stéphanie Gibaud, Luc Hermann, an investigative journalist who is one of the directors of the Premières Lignes production company, and Marco Benagli, representing a civil society group that helped fund the project.

The French actress Catherine Deneuve^[5] also attended as the inauguration's sponsor. She sat in the sculpture's empty chair and read an address written for the occasion by Irène Frachon, the French specialist who exposed the dangers of the antidiabetic drug Mediator.

Strasbourg – Place Kléber[]

The sculpture was displayed in Strasbourg ’s Place Kléber from November 16 to 21 as part of the annual Strasbourg World Forum for Democracy.^[6] The display was inaugurated on November 17 in the presence of Dormino, Deloire and Luxleaks whistleblower Antoine Deltour.

Tours[]

The sculpture has been installed in front of the Gare de Tours during the 9th edition of the Assises du Journalisme, from March 9 to 11, 2016.

Perugia – Piazza IV Novembre[]

The sculpture Anything to Say? has been exhibited for the first time in Italy, in the historical square in Perugia, during the 10th International Journalism Festival (April 6–10, 2016).

An associated panel discussion entitled From WikiLeaks to Snowden: protecting high-value sources in the age of mass surveillance on Friday April 8 with speakers Sarah Harrison, Davide Dormino, and .

On April 6 during the 7th anniversary of the earthquake in L'Aquila,

Vincenzo Vittorini, the spokesman of a delegation struggling for truth and justice for the earthquake 309 victimes, stood up one the sculpture's empty chair to make a speech about the responsibility of the Italian Government in L'Aquila tragic events.

Belgrade[]

Promoted and supported by in Serbia, with the collaboration of G12@HUB and the Radisson Artist Residency Program, Anything to say? has been exhibited at the contemporary art Dev9t Festival, from June 8 to 10, 2016.

Ptuj- Mestni trg Square[]

The sculpture has been exhibited in the Slovenian city during the 14th edition of the Art Stays Festival-politic(s) from July 8 until July 16.

Rome – P.le Aldo Moro[]

Promoted by MLAC- Museo Laboratorio di Arte Contemporanea and supported by La Sapienza University of Rome. The Sculpture has been exhibited in front of the entrance of the University from December 9 until December 13, 2016. At the opening there was hundred citizen and representatives of non-governmental organisations, universities, and students. Such people will include Gianni Rufini, Director of Amnesty International; , Director of the Department of International Relations and Global Politics at the American University of Rome, Professor , Director of MLAC.

Spoleto – Piazza Campello[]

July 6–13, 2019 On Saturday July 6 Anything to say has added a new stop on its route, arriving at Spoleto on the premises of Fuori Festival during the 62nd Edition of Festival dei Due Mondi. It's been an important stage where the speech, which was started over the past years in support of freedom of speech, has reached a wider extent in defense of all civil rights in our society and of journalism. For the first time, in fact, the event has been expressly dedicated to journalism in support of press freedom and of the sources of journalists' investigations. The speakers: (FNSI) (Stampa Romana) (Ordine dei Giornalisti – Lazio) (Ossigeno per l’Informazione) (ANSA ) (Il Manifesto ) (giornalista) Stefania Maurizi ( La Repubblica )

Berlin – Brandenburger Tor[]

November 27–30, 2019 A sculpture of WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange and whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning, returned to Berlin as Germany's Bundestag held a public hearing on Assange's UK extradition case. The event – organised by German political party Die Linke (The Left) – was also attended by Assange's father , Wikileaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson, one of Assange's case lawyers and UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer are taking part in a public hearing The sculpture was created by Italian artist Davide Dormino who was present at the rally. Speakers: Sevim Dagdelen, Abgeordnete der Fraktion DIE LINKE Dietmar Bartsch, MdB, Vorsitzender der Fraktion DIE LINKE im Deutschen Bundestag Sahra Wagenknecht, MdB Nils Melzer, UN-Sonderberichterstatter zum Thema Folter Kristinn Hrafnsson, Chefredakteur Wikileaks , Vater von Julian Assange Davide Dormino, Künstler

Bruxelles – Place de la Monnaie[]

January 29–31, 2020 The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has taken part on Wednesday, January 29 to two events of the Belgian civil society, namely Carta Academica and Belgium4Assange, in public actions in Brussels to defend freedom of expression, press freedom and the right to know in general, Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, Sarah Harrison and Edward Snowden in particular. Citizens, journalists, artists, human rights organizations and journalists' unions met in Brussels on Wednesday January 29 to call on the Belgian government to do all it can to protect Julian Assange and prevent his extradition to the United States.

Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning and Sarah Harrison are the 21st century heroes and fighters. They sacrificed their freedom for information, they sacrificed their lives for the truth," added , standing on the 4th chair of Davide Dormino's sculpture, "Anything to say", Wednesday afternoon at in Brussels, renamed Place Julian-Assange for the occasion.

Cologne - Cologne Cathedral[]

October 16–18, 2020 Julian Assange's father collected the "" granted to his son Julian by the NRhZ-Online media in front of Cologne Cathedral on Friday. The life-size itinerant sculpture "Anything to say?" by Italian sculptor was displayed as part of its global tour celebrating Assange, and whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning. "It is now 26 prizes for journalism that Julian has received and this is because the information that he gives, that WikiLeaks give, is vital to the people who hear it. That's us, you and me, and everybody here, and our mothers and fathers and children. The information that Chelsea Manning, Julian Assange and WikiLeaks bring to us is vital for our existence and freedom," Shipton said.

Geneve - Bains de Paquis[]

Inauguration of the installation. Bains des Pâquis, Geneva, June 05, 2021

June 5th-August, 2021 Geneva mobilizes to demand the release of Julian Assange Julian Assange's partner, , traveled to Geneva to attend the Geneva call to free Assange. A press conference hosted by the launched the appeal, followed by a public inauguration of the by Italian Artist . The statue dedicated to whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning as well as to Julian Assange will be installed at the same time on the pier in front of the Geneva Jet d’eau. The initiative’s six demands, included a call on the U.S. administration to drop the charges without delay, while urging the British authorities to resist any extradition attempt. Among the personalities and speakers present were United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer, the mayor of , Carlo Sommaruga, the secretary general of Reporters Without Borders , Member of the and the executive director of the .

See also[]

• Crypto-anarchism
• Freedom of information
• Internet privacy

References[]

External links[]

• Official website