The third Monday of each January marks Martin Luther King Junior Day, a federal holiday in the U.S.A. The remembrance of Dr King on this particular day reminds us that he was born in January (15th) and pays honour to his activism, personal sacrifice and the continuing legacy of his campaigns for civil rights that promoted racial equality.
Martin Luther King Junior’s messages were so influential, globally relevant and timeless, that twenty-first century artists remain compelled to use and re-use his image in order to convey to their audiences that there is still much work to be achieved in a world where many individuals continue to be treated unfairly or suffer from discrimination.
In 2018, just prior to the 50th anniversary of Dr King’s assassination, the Italian artist, Dario Gambarin, completed a portrait of the Georgian activist in a field in Castognaro, near to Verona. Gambarin ploughed the image into agricultural land using a tractor as he wanted to lead “a revolt on the language” which “induces a profound reflection and [reflects] the many transformations that everyone today are living.” Employing King’s image and the famous “I have a dream” statement conveys “that much has been done but there is still a long way to go.”
References: https://www.insideedition.com/artist-pays-tribute-martin-luther-king-jr-plowing-image-his-face-field-42007
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/king/biographical/
https://thekingcenter.org/about-dr-king/
Image: CBS interactive © 2020 Inside Edition Inc.