Do you ever see art that just pulls you in? You can’t walk away. You will risk being left behind to spend a few more moments with it. You will apologize for being late but not really feel sorry. It’s compelling, its seductive. When I was in the Palais Garnier in Paris last month, in addition to the amazing architecture and paintings, I came across this sculpture in the corner. These photos do not do justice to the work. Even now, I can’t stop looking at how well the body is sculpted to capture that inflight motion. Even the shadows it casts are impressive.
How many times did the model have to jump for the artist? When would you make your body move like this? I pondered this a bit, and it made me think of futbol and volleyball. Basketball. Its a slice of time that might last a few seconds. What do you think?
Bronze sculptures are often created with a base model, which then is committed to a mold, which can be made with wax and/or clay. The mold creates an identical reverse impression. Bronze is then poured. Depending on how the mold is created, the process can be duplicated, or it is a one-time pour. Today, you can create a silicon mold and crank out several copies.
I wish I had taken notes on the artist and technique used, but at least I know where to find it again! I don’t think sculpture of this type is in my future, but it is fascinating.
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