Omri Amrany has become, despite himself, one of the most criticized men in the sporting sphere in the United States in recent days, even though (almost) no one knew his name.
His statue of Dwyane Wade, unveiled last Sunday in front of the Heat's Kayesa Center, caused a lot of reaction and was the subject of numerous mockery and misappropriation. The artist returned to his work for the first time to the Sportico website. Omri Amrany, one of the continent's references for this type of statue, admits to not having sought photorealism, but to describe an emotion in the former Miami fullback.
The sculptor does not say he is discouraged by the numerous criticisms, some from former players like Shaquille O'Neal… of whom Omri Amrany had also made a statue in the past.
“ I don't read comments at all, one of the many things I don't do, because I want to keep an open mind to dreams and opportunities, and keep moving forward » he assures. “ Perhaps next time I would suggest that the subject of the work be aware of the reactions it might cause. »
Dwyane Wade himself had to come to the statue's defense, turning the reactions into ridicule.
The same criticism as for his statue of Michael Jordan in 1994
Like the Hall of Famer, Omri Amrany explains that this statue of Dwyane Wade's celebration after a buzzer beater against the Bulls in 2009 was not intended to be as similar as possible, feature for feature.
“ Critics miss the whole story of a boy who had nothing, who became everything he wanted to be, and that was his expression when he jumped on the scorer's table to tell his team from his city: 'This is my home'. It's a great American story that they miss because what they want is a boring face. And I'm sorry, but they won't get it from me. »
It must be said that Omri Amrany has seen others. Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain or even other sports glories like Vince Lombardi or David Beckham… All have already been the subject of statues by the Chicago artist and his studio.
One of them had already caused the same consequences, when thirty years earlier, the statue of Michael Jordan, legs apart and going up for a dunk, was unveiled in front of the Bulls' United Center.
“ People didn't like that his face wasn't the same as the one on their cereal box. » remembers Omri Amrany about his work “The Spirit”. “ They didn't want what Jordan wanted. And they didn't know it because they didn't meet him, they didn't sit with him.“
