Monuments of the Disclosed
Inspired by the acts of multiple truth-tellers, artist Ahmet Öğüt collaborated with Artwrld to create Monuments of the Disclosed–a collection of digital monuments to nine historical whistleblowers. Individuals who, often at tremendous personal sacrifice, exposed the fraud, malintent and wrongdoing of unfettered power; and who, more often than not, remain unrecognized for their acts of courage.
A Suite of Monuments
In recognition of this special project honoring historic whistleblowers, Artwrld is making available a suite of monuments to each of the nine whistleblowers included in Monuments of the Disclosed (details below). If you're interested in acquiring this piece, please contact us at info@artwrld.com.
This suite of 9 monuments comes with file formats for image, AR, and 3D viewing and includes the following whistleblowers:
Aaron Swartz (Gold, Plinth 3)
Marsha Coleman-Adebayo (Bronze, Plinth 3)
Mona Hanna-Attisha (Bronze, Plinth 4)
Karen Silkwood (Silver, Plinth 6)
Kimberly Young-McLear (Gold, Plinth 3)
Marlene Garcia-Esperat (Silver, Plinth 1)
Li Wenliang (Bronze, Plinth 3)
Bunnatine Greenhouse (Silver, Plinth 1)
Phillip Saviano (Bronze, Plinth 2)
A comparable suite of monuments was recently acquired by the Kadist Art Foundation for their permanent collection.
Inquire →The story of Monuments of the Disclosed as told by Ahmet Öğüt
Monuments of the Disclosed is a collection of digital monuments that are made available as both 3D digital files and Augmented Reality experiences. In providing AR-ready digital sculptures, Öğüt invites the public to participate in populating public space with monuments to those that blew the whistle on corrupt power. Each monument is dedicated to a different individual who stood up to forces far beyond themselves. Their busts hover over the plinths making one wonder if they are about to land or be removed. They exist in a perpetual state of transition.
Monuments are built, and monuments are toppled. In recent years, activists have asked the question who gets honored in monumental form. Most commonly, cities are adorned with statues of military generals, philanthropic merchants and well-connected politicians cast in bronze, concrete, marble and stone. Their towering figures offer an exclamation point in the urban body of what and whose history matters.
In 2015, three anonymous artists (later identified as Jeff Greenspan, Andrew Tider, and Doyle Trankina) installed a bust of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden atop an empty Doric column in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn. Hours later the intervention was removed by NYC park officials. In their statement on the project, the artists claimed to have “updated” the monument in an effort to “highlight those that sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies.”
Inspired by this guerilla act, artist Ahmet Öğüt collaborated with Artwrld to create a collection of digital monuments to lesser-known whistleblowers. Individuals who, often at tremendous personal sacrifice, exposed the fraud, malintent and wrongdoing of unfettered power; and who, more often than not, remain unrecognized for their acts of courage.
The story of Monuments of the Disclosed as told by Ahmet Öğüt
Monuments of the Disclosed is a collection of digital monuments that are made available as both 3D digital files and Augmented Reality experiences. In providing AR-ready digital sculptures, Öğüt invites the public to participate in populating public space with monuments to those that blew the whistle on corrupt power. Each monument is dedicated to a different individual who stood up to forces far beyond themselves. Their busts hover over the plinths making one wonder if they are about to land or be removed. They exist in a perpetual state of transition.
Monuments are built, and monuments are toppled. In recent years, activists have asked the question who gets honored in monumental form. Most commonly, cities are adorned with statues of military generals, philanthropic merchants and well-connected politicians cast in bronze, concrete, marble and stone. Their towering figures offer an exclamation point in the urban body of what and whose history matters.
In 2015, three anonymous artists (later identified as Jeff Greenspan, Andrew Tider, and Doyle Trankina) installed a bust of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden atop an empty Doric column in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn. Hours later the intervention was removed by NYC park officials. In their statement on the project, the artists claimed to have “updated” the monument in an effort to “highlight those that sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies.”
Inspired by this guerilla act, artist Ahmet Öğüt collaborated with Artwrld to create a collection of digital monuments to lesser-known whistleblowers. Individuals who, often at tremendous personal sacrifice, exposed the fraud, malintent and wrongdoing of unfettered power; and who, more often than not, remain unrecognized for their acts of courage.
About the Artist
Ahmet Öğüt is an artist, lecturer, and sociocultural initiator. Working across a variety of media, he often uses humor and subtle gestures to comment on pressing social and political issues. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Visible Award for his project The Silent University, an autonomous knowledge-exchange platform by and for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.
Read More →Their Stories
Augmented Reality Experience
Ahmet Öğüt's Monuments of the Disclosed collection is AR-enabled. You can test the AR experience with nine demo monuments.
View in Augmented Reality →