Martin Luther King, Jr. and Freedom
Zenos’ Martin Luther King, Jr. and Freedom is the first public sculpture in Australia honoring the life and legacy of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. It integrates a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. with Zenos’ well-known Freedom sculpture, which depicts the concept of breaking free. Winner of an international competition, this sculpture is installed in the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Peace Garden and now accompanies other works honoring the world’s most inspiring leaders, including sculptures of Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
Size: Life-size portrait bust with Freedom sculpture
Media: Bronze
Height of Portrait Bronze: 8.5 inches
Total Height of Bronze with Freedom: 30 inches
Location: Library Peace Garden, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
Collections: UNSW, Sydney, Australia
Cast: June 2018
Foundry: Laran Bronze, Inc., Pennsylvania, USA
Installation: October 18, 2018
In the process of creating this sculpture, Zenos gathered research including photos lent to him by Martin Luther King’s personal photographer, Flip Schulke, who documented King throughout his work in the civil rights movement. Zenos consulted with his client, UNSW, to understand the purpose of the sculpture, the mission of UNSW’s Peace Garden, as well as the sense of space and other works in the garden.
UNSW representatives visited Frudakis Studio to approve the final sculpture, and it was then cast at Laran Bronze foundry in Pennsylvania. The completed bronze portrait sculpture is mounted on a stone base with an inscription of King’s quote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
The UNSW Library Peace Garden is part of an ongoing project made possible through the generosity of UNSW alumni in North America and the UNSW US Foundation, the US Embassy in Canberra, the US Consulate Sydney, the King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, the US Trumpet Awards, the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C., and the US State Department.
“It was a pleasure and privilege to work with Eric D. Tidwell, Esq., representing the Estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jennie Lang, UNSW, on this project.”