Dwyane Wade’s sculptor, Omri Armany, has come forward to defend his recently unveiled statue. Despite the criticism and fans ripping it apart, Armany reveals that the Heat legend is quite content with his likeness.
Addressing the fans’ outcry, Armany expressed his surprise at the negative reception, stating;
‘I want to be an artist that creates an in-your-face response and you cannot expect all of human society will have a positive reaction,’ Amrany told the outlet.
‘Some people will come with a goofy response or angry response. That’s not because of what the art is itself, but rather how it makes them feel. So, if this is my part of being a psychologist, fine.’
Much of the criticism was centered on the depiction of Wade’s face. The statue drew comparisons to the infamous botched Cristiano Ronaldo statue unveiled in 2017. Armany’s firm, Studio Rotblatt Armany, was not involved in the Ronaldo statue, which was revised thereafter.
Armany worked with artist Oscar Leon on the sculpture and said many twisted Wade’s remarks during the ceremony upon the statue’s unveiling. He also revealed that the Hall of Famer visited their studio in his native Chicago several times during the building process.
‘He knew exactly what he wanted,’ Amrany said. ‘He was very happy with the piece. He was joking when he turned around and said, ‘Who is this guy?’ It was like, ‘How did I get here where somebody made a sculpture for me?’
‘Some people took it like he didn’t recognize his own sculpture, which is completely the opposite. It was just an expression. Sometimes people take the expression literally instead of trying to understand the depth of it.’
While fans misinterpreted his initial comments, Wade called the statue ‘beautiful’ during Sunday’s ceremony.
‘Personally, I’m biased, I think it’s one of the best statues that’s been created because of what it represents for us and for me,’ Wade told the Miami Herald.
Wade’s sculpture is the first to be erected outside Kaseya Center, the home of the Heat. Armany also shared the direct line between his most recent product and his most notable statue – the Michael Joran sculpture known as ‘The Sprit’ outside United Center in Chicago.
‘I was looking at this one as continuing a tradition,’ Omri Amrany said. ‘Dwyane was about 11 years old when his father took him to see the sculpture of Michael Jordan in Chicago after we unveiled it.
‘Now, Dwyane is part of the next generation who is getting the tribute,’ He added. ‘I would like to see another 11-year-old kid with his father inspired by this statue and, 20 or 30 years from now, will have his own statue unveiled.’
Contrary to the fans’ disappointment, Armany shares that Dwyane Wade himself is more than satisfied with the statue. In fact, Wade reportedly expressed his gratitude towards the sculptor for his dedication and hard work. Armany attributes this positive reception to Wade’s understanding of the artistic process and the message behind the sculpture.
According to Armany, Wade sees beyond the superficial elements and recognizes the deeper meaning behind the artwork. In a private conversation with the sculptor, the basketball legend expressed that the statue is a representation of his journey, struggles, and triumphs throughout his extraordinary career. For Wade, it symbolizes the impact he has had not only on the sport but on the Miami Heat franchise itself.
As the debate rages on, it is important to remember that art is subjective, and interpretations will always differ. Perhaps Wade’s words will serve as a reminder to appreciate the deeper meaning behind the sculpture and refrain from dismissing it based solely on its physical characteristics.
Flip to the next page for the photos of Dwyane Wade’s statue…
