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Survival of the Fattest

Survival of the Fattest is a bronze sculpture made in 2002 by Jens Galschiøt and Lars Calmar. It depicts a starved African boy carrying a huge fat woman from the West, with the woman holding a pair of scales as a symbol of justice. Her closed eyes echo the blindfolded Lady Justice while suggesting an unwillingness to see obvious injustice. The work was created as a symbol of the uneven distribution of the world’s resources and as a message to the rich part of the world about unjust global trade. In 2006, the sculpture was acquired by the city of Ringkøbing in Central Denmark Region and placed in the harbour.

Survival of the Fattest bronze sculpture of a large woman balancing on the shoulders of an emaciated man.
The bronze sculpture Survival of the Fattest shows a large woman holding scales and a staff while standing on an emaciated man.
© · CC BY 2.0
Survival of the Fattest bronze sculpture of an obese woman holding scales and a staff atop an emaciated man.
The bronze sculpture Survival of the Fattest shows an obese woman with scales and a staff standing on an emaciated man, with city buildings in the background.
© Galchiøt · CC BY-SA 3.0
Survival of the Fattest bronze sculpture showing a large woman carrying scales and a staff on the shoulders of an emaciated figure.
The sculpture Survival of the Fattest is shown in an outdoor plaza with modern buildings in the background.
© · CC BY 2.0
Survival of the Fattest bronze sculpture of a corpulent woman on an emaciated man, with a man standing nearby.
The sculpture Survival of the Fattest shows a corpulent woman holding scales and a staff, seated on the shoulders of an emaciated man.
March 2003 © Jens Galschiøt · GFDL

Identification

TitleSurvival of the Fattest
TypeBronze and plastic sculpture
SeriesSevenMeters

Historical context

Date made2002

Creator

ArtistJens Galschiøt and Lars Calmar

Physical characteristics

Height3.5 meters
EyesClosed
Object heldA pair of scales

Appearance

Depicted figuresA fat woman from the West sitting on the shoulders of a starving African boy

Iconography and meaning

Inscription"I'm sitting on the back of a man. He is sinking under the burden. I would do anything to help him. Except stepping down from his back."
Intended messageA message to the rich part of the world
ThemeImbalanced global distribution of resources, including Western overconsumption, hunger in the Third World, and unjust world trade
Interpretation of closed eyesA suggestion that justice has degenerated into self-righteousness and a refusal to see obvious injustice
Symbolism of scalesA symbol of justice
Reference in depictionAn ironic allusion to the Darwinist expression "Survival of the Fittest" and a reference to the traditional depiction of Lady Justice wearing a blindfold

Location and ownership

Acquired byThe city of Ringkøbing, Central Denmark Region
Year acquired2006
Current locationThe harbour in Ringkøbing, Central Denmark Region
Location status dateAs of 2022

History and restoration

Exhibited atthe 15th Climate Change Conference (COP15) in 2009
Installation locationthe harbour of Copenhagen, next to The Little Mermaid statue, installed in water
Purpose of placementto ensure the sculpture's provocative message would receive international attention
Interpretation of placementto suggest that the intentions and goals of wealthy countries at the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen were nothing more than fairy tales

Significance

Associated landmarkThe Little Mermaid statue, seen by an estimated one million tourists per year
DescriptionProbably the most moving work in the SevenMeters series