This artwork is dedicated to the hair-raising sound of the Spanish guitar, the fiery passion of the flamenco dance, and the artistic geniuses Gaudi, Dali, and Picasso. In this wooden sculpture, the guitar dreams of its distant childhood when it was a tree with flowers and fruits long before it was harvested by people to make guitars, homes, and ships.
The central figure of a dancing woman alludes to one of the columns from Gaudi’s “Sagrada Familia,” in which a turtle is depicted at the base, supporting the column above it. Here, the woman is depicted as the protector of life. With one hand, she calms the violent tendencies of the “bullying man.” In the other hand, she holds a symbol of peace and higher spirit- the dove.
The bull also serves as the symbolic animal of Spain, with bullfights being a traditional national form of entertainment. The world-renowned Andalusian horse is shown on the right with its characteristic long hair, athletic body, and ability to perform complex movements, like staying seated. Behind the horse is a figure of a conquistador with a hat shaped like a ship, in reference to the history of exploration and expansion of the Spanish culture into the American continent.
Salvador Dali’s profile is hidden in the negative space between the horsetail and the tree, with the snail acting as his imaginary eye. The back lighting effects are provided to simulate the burning fire that can be felt when watching a passionate flamenco dancer.
©2015 Wooden sculpture from Spanish cedar, guitar strings. 36”x60”x4” (91x150x10cm)