Wood-cut sculptures of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. stand across Buckingham Fountain, along Chicago’s Lakefront, in an area called Queens Landing. This sculpture is part of a temporary installation entitled “Demand Justice”. For Maxwell Emcays–the artist, this artwork is important to be acknowledged on the anniversary of the day George Floyd was killed.
Malcolm X is widely known as a figure who pursuited racial justice for African-American and Muslim American communities. Martin Luther King Jr. is a civil rights activist who uses nonviolence and civil disobedience that is inspired by Christian beliefs and Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent activism. Both of them have different perspectives, but inspire us to fight injustice.
Quoted from ABC7 Chicago, Maxwell Emcays hopes that this installation art can be “a reminder of the work we still have to do as a city, as a community, as a country”.
“Demand Justice” is public art that is capable of opening up a dialogue about equality and the civil rights movement in today’s society. This installation will be exhibited until 22nd June 2021.
Maxwell Emcays, “Demand Justice”. Screenshot from video https://abc7chicago.com/