Redemption Song Jamaica
Redemption Song is a large sculpture located at the main entrance of Emancipation Park in Kingston Jamaica. It was created by Jamaican artist Laura Facey and It’s name is taken from Bob Marley’s Redemption Song – inspired by the line “none but ourselves can free our minds.”.
The statue stands 11 foot tall and was unveiled on the eve of Jamaica’s Emancipation Day, on 31 July 2003. It consists of two nude bronze figures, male and female, who stand in a round pool of water, gazing at the skies, symbolic of their triumphant rise from slavery.
“My piece is not about ropes, chains or torture; I have gone beyond that. I wanted to create a sculpture that communicates transcendence, reverence, strength and unity through our pro-creators—man and woman—all of which comes when the mind is free.”
Laura Facey, 2003
While intended as a hopeful and unifying image it did not find favour with everyone. Some took offense to the nudity and lack of historical references, while others took offense to the artist being a light-skinned Jamaican saying this was not appropriate for a public monument to the Emancipation from Slavery.
These criticisms still linger today but the monument is now an established landmark and can be freely visited by anyone who makes their way to Kingston, Jamaica .
