There was an unveiling of a 22-foot bronze sculpture called “The Embrace” honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King on the Boston Common on Friday. Having it in Boston was appropriate, since that was where the couple met.

But when the pictures and video of the unveiling went out on social media, I think it’s fair to say that the artwork was not received well–mostly because no one could figure out what it was supposed to depict. Now, it’s gone viral because of all the reactions.

BREAKING: The bronze sculpture called “The Embrace” honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King has just been unveiled on the Boston Common #7news #MLKWeekend #MLKDay2023 pic.twitter.com/IckphP15FL

— Amaka Ubaka (@AmakaUbakaTV) January 13, 2023

The sculpture was supposed to be based on this picture of MLK hugging his wife, after he was told he won the Nobel Prize.

This is the picture that created “The Embrace” in #Boston #MLK #MLKDay2023 pic.twitter.com/fWYSMhfNPB

— Jabari (@The_10thLetter) January 14, 2023

But somehow, something got lost in the translation and depending on what angle you looked at it from, it looked even worse.

Worse from this angle, Zuby. pic.twitter.com/5BhKtohcAc

— Sir Paul Alves (@StarshipAlves) January 14, 2023

I’m not even sure what that looks like there. I’m afraid to speculate, although others are not being as reticent as I am.

There’s a sculptor somewhere giggling uncontrollably. pic.twitter.com/NlSXCQvpwo

— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) January 14, 2023

I went searching, trying to find a better angle. It doesn’t get much better, though.

It’s a new sculpture unveiled today on Boston Common. It’s called the “Embrace,” and it’s supposed to depict “the arms, shoulders and hands” of MLK and his wife “hugging after Martin received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.” pic.twitter.com/gFsEEsPQwZ

— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) January 14, 2023

This was probably the best angle and quite frankly, it was still weird.

Even from a better angle, the MLK statue looks just – for the lack of a better word – creepy 🥴 pic.twitter.com/ym6Li5zZLC

— Kat Kanada (@KatrinaPanova) January 14, 2023

By the way, this artwork cost $10 million. It was designed by Hank Willis Thomas, a “conceptual artist,” and MASS Design Group.

Everyone is asking about the creator/artist. https://t.co/1pkC0OC3V6 pic.twitter.com/IPEPrJheaM

— Christina Hendriks (@renissance_1) January 14, 2023

It’s a concept alright. I’m just not sure what concept the artist was trying to convey here. But if you can’t identify what the sculpture is without reading the written description under it, maybe there’s a problem. Maybe including some heads wouldn’t be a bad concept, to help identify what you’re trying to convey. Did heads cost another couple of million dollars? Were they skimping on the material?

Maybe it’s just me, I’m thinking that if you’re trying to honor MLK, what you put out there should say it in a way that is easy for all to pick up. If you need to explain it, you’ve missed the boat.