John Lennon said that all you need is love. Last Friday's post told us that love is the answer. Who better to personify love than Eros, Greek god of the same? Igor Mitoraj's Eros Bendato (Eros Bound) is probably the most popular sculpture in Citygarden. The plinth is a gently sloping circle with water trickling down the surface. It is hollow - you can climb inside through the neck and kids can peek out through the eyes. It looks like something natural - sort of.
But then you have to try to understand it. Was Eros bandaged or were his eyes and mouth deliberately covered at another time? Is it about repression of vision and speech, injury or perhaps death of love? And what's with that notch in the neck? And why are the eyes empty? (Greek sculpture used plain spheres for eyes. The Romans introduced carved irises and pupils. This is neither.)
I'm just askin'.
But then you have to try to understand it. Was Eros bandaged or were his eyes and mouth deliberately covered at another time? Is it about repression of vision and speech, injury or perhaps death of love? And what's with that notch in the neck? And why are the eyes empty? (Greek sculpture used plain spheres for eyes. The Romans introduced carved irises and pupils. This is neither.)
I'm just askin'.
9 comments:
Eros is not only bound but decapitated and hollow. Maybe the artist was gravely disappointed by love.
beaucoup de questions pour un lundi matin...Peut etre que tout simplement que l'ami(e) de l'artiste venait de le quitter, alors vision pessimiste de l'amour dans le monde
Yes, a lot of questions! Mine is: how does it feel to walk through a head?
And I ain't got no answers B. I do know I've always like this piece and if I ever get to The Lou, take me there first.
V
Whoa!!! Way too much thought for a Monday morning!!! Interesting sculpture though...
(I'm with cildequimper...my immediate thought was how morbid to "climb inside the neck" and "peek through the eyes"!!!)
A peculiar sculpture!
All those questions. My head hurts. I will look around and take pictures and leave answers to the earnest among us.
Interactive artwork and open interpretation ..I think the artist has probably achieved his aim Bob :) I like it and would definitely climb in and peer out of those eyes!
Many questions here. But it's an interesting artwork to look at.
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