The spectacle of sculpture

The Statue of Unity in Gujarat was commissioned at almost the same time as the National Police Memorial in New Delhi's Chanakyapuri

At a time when people seem to be talking about statues — and their relevance, or extravagance — it seems an appropriate moment to wonder whether these qualify as works of art. The massive Statue of Unity, at 597 ft, appears more spectacle than sculpture, and probably is intended as such. Though it has promoted a welcome discussion around Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and his role in shaping India’s history, the single descriptor when referring to the statue is as the world’s tallest. To refer to any work of art by volume seems a desecration of the artist’s intent — even