Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz stands by his statue, “Life Monument,” a bronze and steel sculpture of Mary and the unborn Jesus in her womb. (CNS photo/Carol Glatz )
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
ROME — If “beauty will save the world,” as Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky said, then “perhaps beauty can also save the unborn,” said Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz.
“Artwork has the power to persuade and convince and move people,” and “the more representations we have of a mother and child … in our visual landscape,” the better, he said.
Schmalz spoke with Catholic News Service and other reporters in Rome May 27 to present his latest sculpture: the “Life Monument,” which is permanently installed at the Church of San Marcello al Corso in the center of the city.
The 8-foot-tall bronze statue depicts Mary embracing her pregnant belly, which reveals a womb made of polished stainless steel with the unborn baby Jesus. The mirroring effect of the womb allows viewers to see themselves in the womb, as a reminder that their lives, too, started in a womb, he said.
Schmalz said his hope is to offer a pro-life message that reminds people of their own gift of life and the beauty of art to touch the hearts of those who are in favor of legalized abortion.
“I just do not want to preach to the choir,” noting how the church where the statue is displayed is visited by countless tourists.
He said he wanted the piece not to be “a weapon of confrontation,” but seen as “a celebration.”
“I did not want to make a pro-life sculpture that offends anyone,” because the method of using horrifying images of dead unborn babies “is not working” and those who need convincing “are not going to learn anything,” he said.
If they can see the beauty in unborn life, he said, “perhaps that will be some sort of persuasion” to make them think more deeply about all human life as being beautiful.