MAGDALENA ABAKANOWICZ. Sitting FIGURE ON A SHORT BENCH.

Written By Clare Kunny

The figure’s body hints at multiple stories.

At the northeast corner of North Crescent Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard, you’ll find a seated figure under the shadow of a tree facing toward the streets.

The slumped figure is a man seated on a bench with his legs hanging off the edge but not touching the ground. Armless and faceless, this sculpture’s anatomical details appear on the front—the pectorals and rib cage are visible. The attentive visitor will notice linear bronze reliefs that run through the figure’s body, hinting at multiple stories: old wounds, stretch marks, movement, and the toll of time. The definition of the seated man’s thin thighs, sculpted calves, and detailed toes lend humanity to the fragmentary figure.

Yet, as one walks to the back side of this figure, the body is hollow – there is no spine or muscular mass. The human details of the front don’t match the void of substance on his backside. This figure sits with a frontal shell that is armless, faceless, and backless.

SPARK A CONVERSATION.

The Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz is a renowned sculptor and fiber artist. Abaknowicz experimented with materials such as burlap, string, and cotton gauze to create sculpture. In her work, the fiber sculptures began with burlap wrapped around a human body to create a cast that was then transformed from malleable textiles to bronze for pieces to be installed outdoors, such as Sitting Figure on a Short Bench.

  • Can you find evidence of the fiber materials in this sculpture?

  • Identify the body parts where you see this.

  • Pantomime: Take the position of the seated figure.

  • Is it comfortable?

  • What does this body language express about the figure?

This seated figure is a fragment, but it exudes a human presence. It has no arms, no head, and a hollow backside.

  • Can you imagine the position of the arms if added to this figure?

  • Find the toes of this figure.

  • Why do you think they are more detailed than other parts of this figure?

Clare Kunny https://www.artmusela.com
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TOM FRIEDMAN. TAKEAWAY.