My wife and I love going to The Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. It is the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds, and one man had a vision to convert it into a multi-acre art museum. (You can get free passes at the Sparta Library…You really should go!!!).
The statue above is one of my favorite pieces. It is titled General Bronze by Marisol.
So modern sculpture may not be your cup of tea because it is too angular or abstract. I used to think the same way. I used to look at art and not get it. That was because I would only look at the colors or texture, but failed to learn about the piece. Yet a few years ago I spent some time going a little deeper at the Guggenheim Museum, and I fell in love. I now really enjoy it, especially modern art, because it isn’t just about the aesthetics but about what is says (or does not say) about a time, social situation, context, emotions, etc.
For example, the piece above may prompt you to think of those monuments/statues honoring stately people from history astride a horse. You know the ones; they sit in countless public parks or town squares, etc. that get pooped on by birds and torn down by protestors! But there is more to this piece than what is on the surface!
Marisol, who often engaged the viewer through humor, has been known to disguise an underlying satirical social commentary in her art, and this one is a prime example. Here is the rest of the story…
General Bronze is based upon General Juan Gomez, a Venezuelan leader and president (the home country of the artist’s parents). He “successfully” led his country through the great depression almost completely unscathed by this international crisis, while increasing their economic status and improving much of their infrastructure (this made him a hero to many). Gomez was also a brutal and corrupt dictator who grew his own (and his cronies) personal fortune making him the wealthiest man in Venezuela in the process. Marisol calls this piece an “anti-memorial.”
When you actually standing there viewing the General, you will miss an important part of if you do not look closer, or (in my case) have a tour guide reveal to you the deeper truth. On the rump of the horse is a small rectangular opening. If you are brave enough to look through the opening (Yes, you should risk looking like a horse’s butt looking into one) you will find that just the right amount of daylight filters in revealing a much more realistic depiction of the General lying in repose (you know, like in a coffin at a viewing at the funeral home).
Maybe Marisol was trying to say that there are more than one way to look at something/someone; one person’s hero is another person’s villain, and vice versa.
Or maybe she is simply saying that she was glad this “horse’s patoot” was dead!
I think it prompts us to look beyond the surface because things are not always as they appear. This is a good lesson in these times where social media, news media, the internet, and others try to manipulate us because they know that we won’t dig a little deeper for the whole truth. Those who they vilify may not be as bad as they want you to think, and those who they hold up as heroes and saviors may not be as heroic or awesome and they want you to think.
More importantly, the same holds true for your faith in our God. If you only scratch the surface, you will undoubtedly miss a fuller understanding of how awesome the Triune God of Grace really is. Don’t just take my word for it; dig deep and don’t be afraid to experience it with others (you know…the church), and by all means find a good tour guide to help you find the deeper meaning. Oh, by the way, don’t forget to ask the Holy Spirit to help you. And don’t worry if you look like a horse’s patoot to the world, because you will be beautiful to the One who loves you so much that he would give you his life.
Remember what Jesus prayed for you and for me:
“Father…this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3
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Sometimes we are discouraged from digging deeper and questioning accepted knowledge. Art, in its many forms, is often the best expression of contrary thought. Great art doesn’t tell you what to think but rather relies on you to think for yourself. I haven’t been to Grounds for Sculpture in a very long time but I wouldn’t be surprised if I just passed right by it. Who would have thought to look through its butt!?
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