Fondling Giacometti
At a recent Sotheby’s art auction in London, L’Homme qui marche I (Walking Man I), an iconic Alberto Giacometti sculpture, sold for more than $104 million. At more than six foot, this imposing bronze certainly commands visual as well as substantial fiscal attention. It is not, however, the auction value that I’d like to comment on, although that record breaking bid is worthy of reflection. Rather, I’d like to mention my personal attraction to this artist’s bronze sculptures.
There is something disconcerting yet viscerally compelling about Giacometti’s pieces. They provoke such an immediate sense of the present; dynamically entering our here and now consciousness, but also presenting a cold, distant personality through shape and bronze material. That is an emotional reaction. What I really want, though, is to get my hands on every ridge, dimple, curve and protuberance. My overwhelming desire is to indulge in a physically palpable sensory experience, exploring every element of the artist’s molded expression.
Our local Joslyn Art Museum exhibited a small but gorgeous Giacometti sculpture, Standing Woman, in 2007 as part of the collection in “Spared From The Storm: Masterworks From The New Orleans Museum Of Art.” Fairly proximate to Omaha, the Art Institute of Chicago has some Giacometti sculptures on display, including this Walking Man II. It is a stunning sculpture and gives you a sense of that piece sold at Sotheby’s for over $104 million.
The piece, though, that constantly seduces me is this Bust of Diego at Tate Modern. The head and shoulders defy convention, both of form and human authenticity, appearing smooth and natural from one perspective, then shifting shape and demeanor from another viewpoint. I want to flout every museum restriction and grab hold of this piece. Being barred from returning would be a small price to pay for the intoxicating pleasure of embracing this work of genius. Diego might as well be a Siren of Greek mythology, calling me hypnotically to touch the face, head, neck and shoulders in an ecstasy of tactual awareness.
Art is central to human expression and experience and I am enamored of Giacometti’s work. I just wish I had $104 million …
Written by Stuart
David Day | Associates
About the Author: Stuart is constantly curious and believes conversation matters, for business, people and community. Feel free to join in...
March 9th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
gung POW chicken, WOW! hey i thought you were married? i can read between the lines. fabulous piece you wrote! would love to see more from you. i have confirmed through several sources that my long held suspicion that every museum has one piece that people are compelled to touch. when viewing jeff koons stainless steel bunny at moca in l.a., you could see 32,456 fingerprints on the belly button. then i saw somebody touch it and that was me. i could not resist. just touch it, you have to!
September 20th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
[...] century to the present, each through a seminal work.” I am a huge fan of Giacometti (see my “Fondling Giacometti” post here) and immediately was compelled to make a beeline to DMAC’s Man Pointing sculpture, only to [...]