After the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Beryl earlier this week, an 18-foot tall horned statue at the University of Houston has been beheaded. Known as “Witness,” the statue has faced harsh criticism from Christian and pro-life groups, who have branded it as “satanic.” In the middle of the powerful storm and subsequent power outages, the statue was reportedly vandalized, with the university asserting that the act was intentional.
The statue “Witness” is part of a larger art series titled “Havah… to breathe, air, life” created by artist Shahzia Sikander. This controversial work depicts a nude woman whose braids resemble goat horns and with unusual, tentacle-like arms. The piece also seemingly honors the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, renowned for her strong advocacy of abortion rights.
Kevin Quinn, executive director of media relations for the University of Houston, addressed the incident with disappointment, confirming that campus police are actively investigating. “We were disappointed to learn the statue was damaged early Monday morning as Hurricane Beryl was hitting Houston. The damage is believed to be intentional. The University of Houston Police Department is currently investigating the matter,” Quinn said.
Following recent protests by pro-life groups, the statue was under increased observation. The public outcry resulted in the University of Houston canceling a scheduled talk by Sikander and the statue’s opening celebration. In an interview with the Times, Sikander described the vandalism as “a very violent act of hate” and called for it to be investigated as a crime.
Sikander issued a statement defending her work and highlighting its link to reproductive rights and women’s autonomy. “The recent focus on reproductive rights in the United States after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion, comes to the forefront,” she explained. Sikander added, “The enduring power lies with the people who step into and remain in the fight for equality. That spirit and grit is what I want to capture in both the sculptures.”
The artist also emphasized the statue’s tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “In recent surveys, much of the public regards the court as partisan and political in the way it exerts power. The luminous figure is a nod to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as seen in the detail on her collar. With Ginsburg’s death and the reversal of Roe, there was a setback to women’s constitutional progress,” Sikander stated.
Besides the Houston installation, Sikander has another sculpture in New York City named “Now,” which was inspired by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The piece in Texas has encountered substantial criticism from conservative activist groups, including Texas Right to Life.
“Disobedience to God certainly should not be esteemed by society, much less celebrated with a statue. On the contrary, art should reflect truth, goodness, and beauty: three timeless values that reveal the nature of God. Art cannot have beauty without truth. Art cannot have truth without goodness,” Texas Right to Life declared in a statement earlier this year. “A statue honoring child sacrifice has no place in Texas.”
The vandalism of the statue at the University of Houston has sparked a broader discussion about the role of public art and its relationship with societal values. As the investigation unfolds, the community remains divided on the presence and meaning of such contentious artworks on campus.
