A life-size rough bronze sculpture of US First Lady Melania Trump was unveiled near her hometown of Sevnica in south-eastern Slovenia on Tuesday, a Reuters reports reads. The statue replaced the wooden one that was torched on July 4 by some locals.
The statue has rough features and stands on a 2.8-metre-high wooden pillar. Next to it is a plaque that reads, "This statue is dedicated to the eternal memory of a monument to Melania which stood in this location". The statue doesn’t bear much resemblance to Melania Trump and has no colours.
The statue was unveiled by Artist Brad Downey at the town where the First Lady grew up. Slovenia was part of communist-ruled former Yugoslavia and now is a part of NATO and the European Union.
"I didn't think it was a good ending for the artwork, I didn't think it was a good ending for the community," Downey said of the arson incident.
Downey was quoted in a CNN report as saying that it is inspired by propaganda monuments, such as those installed by Russian Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin after the 1917 Revolution. The police still haven’t managed to find out who brunt the original statue that was carved using a chainsaw by local artist Ales Zupevc.
The town of Sevnica has sought to profit off Melania-brand merchandise including Melanie brand wine ever since Trump won elections in 2016. Other products under the Melania brand include a beauty cream, chocolate and tea.
