杏MAP导航

By Zeus Legaspi

鈥淗orrible modern-day slavery is everywhere and it鈥檚 kept hidden,鈥� said Timothy Schmalz, a Canadian sculptor. Mr. Schmalz has been a sculptor for almost 30 years and has produced various bronze sculptures depicting social issues, turning Scripture and the Holy Father鈥檚 words into works of visual art.

On the sidelines of the Wednesday General Audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis blessed a small-scale model of Mr. Schmalz's most recent bronze sculpture about human trafficking.

Entitled, 鈥淟et the Oppressed Go Free鈥�, the 20-foot sculpture weighing over three tons depicts St. Josephine Bakhita opening a trapdoor as she frees figures that represent trafficking victims from diverse backgrounds.

The sculpture took inspiration from Isaiah 58:6 and the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 vocal stance on human fraternity and fighting human trafficking. 鈥淭he power of this piece was confirmed when I was reading some comments that 杏MAP导航 Francis made on human trafficking, and he said, human trafficking will always exist if kept underground. I looked at my sculpture and I thought, 鈥榯hese are the words of 杏MAP导航 Francis with the hero being St. Bakhita鈥�,鈥� the artist explained in an interview with Vatican News.

St. Josephine Bakhita

St. Bakhita is the patron saint of Sudan and of victims of human trafficking. The Saint bore 144 scars as a result of her abduction and enslavement at the age of 9. She endured a life of violence and mistreatment during her years as a slave. She later converted to Catholicism and was placed under the care of the Canossian Sisters. She was canonized in 2000.

鈥淚 think that the powerful thing about that was (that) she was a slave from a previous century. And here she is freeing the slaves of today,鈥� Mr. Schmalz said, referring to St. Bakhita as the focal point of his sculpture.

While researching the topic, the sculptor had a chance to reflect on the reality of human trafficking in the world. 鈥淲hen you understand human trafficking, it鈥檚 a slap in the face. It鈥檚 saying we鈥檙e basically living as brutal to our brothers and sisters as ever right now,鈥� he said.

Mr. Schmalz spoke about how this offense to human rights is a 鈥渄eep, disturbing element of humanity鈥� and what was preventing people from talking about it is rooted in not wanting to dwell on something so evil. He believed that his massive bronze sculpture would bring the subject to light.

Timothy Schmalz sculpting "Let the Oppressed Go Free"

Sculptures as visual prayers

The Canadian artist has said in the past that his artworks serve as 鈥渧isual prayers鈥�. His prayer for 鈥淟et the Oppressed Go Free鈥�, Mr. Schmalz said, is one of hope.

鈥淲hen I look at this when I see her (St. Bakhita) opening up the ground and the oppressed going free, there is that hope there. There is that hope that we can absolutely destroy human trafficking in the world.鈥�

鈥淭here is that freedom, that destruction of oppression and slavery represented within this,鈥� he added.

Raising awareness

When asked how his sculpture helps the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 endeavor to spread the message of human fraternity and promote human rights, the sculptor explained that he believes his work could serve as a form of evangelization and an exclamation point to an ugly reality.

鈥淛ust by the existence of this piece out there, taking up that space is going to bring that awareness of human trafficking,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 one of the best things artwork can do. If it can stop human trafficking, if it can鈥�bring awareness of what鈥檚 happening under basically every city.鈥�

鈥淭he first step is awareness. So, I鈥檇 consider this a weapon to fight human trafficking,鈥� he added.

On Thursday, 29 June, Mr. Schmalz鈥檚 latest work will be installed near the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in the Italian city of Schio. The event will be attended by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Schio鈥檚 Mayor, Valter Orsi, among others.

Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz speaks to Vatican News about his recent work dedicated to victims of human trafficking