‘Make America Grime Again': Trump sculpture emerges from New York sewer; White House reacts

Time of India

3 days ago

(Photo: jamescolomina/Instagram)
New Yorkers were greeted with an unexpected sight on Wednesday when a bright red sculpture of US President Donald Trump rising from a manhole was seen in Manhattan.
The life-size statue was titled Donald and was installed by French street artist James Colomina at the corner of East 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue.
The figure wore a suit and tie, showing Trump from the waist up as he appeared to rise out of a manhole. A small red rat peeked out from under the cover.
"I installed the sculpture in New York because this is where he built his image, his empire, his legend," Colomina was quoted as saying to USA Today. "A city he tried to conquer with golden towers and brutal slogans. I wanted this image – a red body rising from the sewers – to disturb that landscape."
The statue was placed roughly a mile from Trump Tower. However, it was quickly removed by a maintenance worker.
Colomina said the entire sculpture was made in France over three weeks. He transported it to New York in parts and reassembled it on site early that morning. A photo of the installation was shared on his Instagram story with the caption 'Make America Grime Again,' a play on Trump's well-known MAGA slogan.
The artwork created a stark visual contrast with its surroundings, particularly with the tall Chrysler Building behind it.
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'The sculpture is installed right across from the Chrysler Building, a symbol of power, elevation, and architectural pride,' Colomina said. 'I liked the idea of creating a stark contrast between this vertical monument and the grotesque figure emerging from the sewers.'
The White House responded with a dismissive tone. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told USA Today, 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This 'artist' will have to go back to the drawing board.
Or perhaps art school.'
Colomina is known for his bold, scarlet-red statues placed in public spaces around the world, including Paris, Tokyo, and Barcelona. His work often touches on urgent social and political themes.
According to his biography on the Galeries Bartoux website, 'The 'Colomina Red,' the artist's visual signature, embodies the anger, passion, and urgency of the issues he tackles.'
'James Colomina favors a clandestine, spontaneous approach: He places his works directly in the street, without prior announcement, transforming everyday spaces into platforms for artistic reflection,' the biography says.