Oxford artist sparks Instagram debate over Cecil Rhodes

Reuben Meller is a student at Oxford's Ruskin School of Art and his creative tool allows users to digitally "remove, contextualise or retain" the contentious statue at Oriel College - providing an online platform for education and debate. 

The Cecil Rhodes statue has attracted controversy in recent years due to Rhodes' imperialist legacy, particularly in southern Africa. 

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The Rhodes Must Fall movement has called for its removal, citing his role in colonial exploitation and racism.

He has been considered a white-supremacist because of his comments on the superiority of the Anglo-Saxon Race and was also the founder of one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world - the Rhodes Scholarship.

In response to the controversy, Oriel College initially voted to remove the statue but later reversed the decision due to legal, financial, and regulatory challenges.

Mr Meller said he wanted to “provide a tool that engages the general public in a meaningful and educational way” and to “stimulate informed discussion about historical legacies and their modern-day implications”.

He said: “The contextualise option even allows a user to use images and videos from their camera roll to replace or edit the statue."

Mr Meller’s filter has three options - remove, contextualise, and retain - to engage users in their own personal debate. 

Mr Meller publicly displayed his filter for the first time recently in the Chapel at Lady Margaret Hall College. 

He said: “The filter seemed to get a lot of attention, with very polarised responses.

“I hope to continue to use art and media for a social good.” 

The filter can be accessed via Instagram, by searching for ‘Cecil Rhodes AR’ in the filter search bar.

The debate over the statue is ongoing, with pro-Palestine protesters from Oxford University recently displaying a 'Rhodes Must Fall' banner at their new second encampment on the Radcliffe Camera lawn.

Oriel College had set up an independent commission in 2021 which had recommended the removal of the statue of Rhodes  alongside a plaque in the city.

Despite this, the College has not removed or further contextualised the Cecil Rhodes statue since October 2021, when it added an explanatory plaque below the statue. 

The plaque describes Rhodes as a “committed British colonialist” who had “obtained his fortune through exploitation of minerals, land and peoples of southern Africa.”

The plaque acknowledges that “some of his activities led to great loss of life and attracted criticism in his day and ever since”.