Male
Figure emerging
from Bath Stone
650 x 250 x 250mm. Carved
in Bath Stone
This was inspired
by a visit to London when I glanced up at ‘Zimbabwe
House’ (which used to be the British Medical Association building) on
the Strand and was surprised by the numerous torsos apparently emerging out
of the stone building. When I got home I discovered that the sculptor
Epstein had carved the figures to represent man’s lifespan - appropriate
for a medical building - but his realistic style rather than romantic portrayal
of the human torso which was the norm at the time - caused outrage and controversy
resulting in unseemly parts of the naked body being removed in the name of
health and safety! Despite the carvings being completed in 1905, the
way they had been mutilated gave the impression they were ancient relics. I
quite liked the way in which the bodies were incomplete and seemed to ‘emerge
from’ or ‘sink into the stone’. The idea inspired me
to create my own version of a man coming out of a stone which I am keen to
develop further with a woman also yet to emerge.
|
