This magnificent sculpture stands outside our Towner Gallery … it was originally (in 2018) on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square …
Image courtesy Rob Harris
(link below)
Michael Rakowitz, the sculptor, is an Iraqi-American artist living and working in Chicago – he is known for his conceptual art shown in non-gallery contexts.
Back Leg of Lamassu sculpture
Rakowitz is known for his recycled projects … be they salvaged date syrup cans as here, or reconstructed artifacts looted from the Iraq Museum and excavation sites from diasporic ephemera, such as newspapers and grocery stores.
Close up of hoof and lower limb - showing
empty date syrup cans ...
'Our statue' is made from 10,500 Iraqi date syrup cans sculpted around a metal frame – it is 4.3 metres (14 feet) in length.
Lamassu, a winged bull protective Assyrian deity, that stood at the entrance to the Nergal Gate of Nineveh from ca. 700 BC until February 2015, when ISIS destroyed it along with artefacts in the nearby Mosul Museum.
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Lamassu, Neo-Assyrian Empire
(c 721 - 705 BC)
Here we find Rakowitz reminding us about the disasters we are inflicting on the world through human, economic and ecological disasters caused by the Iraqi Wars (in this instance) and their aftermath …
… today we need to add at least two other wars in Ukraine and in Israeli/Gaza … let alone all other natural and unnatural disasters we are exposing the world and its occupants to …
As a reminder Iraqi dates were once considered the best in the world and formed the country's second largest export after oil.
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| Nineveh - city wall and gates (NB Nergal Gate - top left) |
The sculpture is entitled 'The Invisible Enemy should not exist (Lamassu of Nineveh)' – the carved cuneiform inscription was invisible to travellers as it was embedded into the wall of the Nergal Gate …
… here Rakowitz has it exposed … while it translates as “Sennercherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, had the wall of Nineveh built anew and raised as high as mountains”.
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Lamma - protective winged deity,
Sumerian Isin-Larsa period
(2000 - 1800 BC)
There's rather more to Lamassu and its (her) history – to be found per the links below; also more about Michael Rakowitz.
Then of course one remembers the past twenty years of wars (War in Iraq from 2003 - 2011) and the further destruction that has been inflicted on world societies … be they human, economic and ecological – so much history to remember, to learn about …
Close up of the carved Cuneiform
inscription - sorry not easy to see
I know exceedingly little about life in the Middle East centuries ago to today … so these links can send you off down rabbit holes … and have and will send me down them again …
As our town welcomes the Turner Prize 2023 to the Towner Art Gallery – in celebration Eastbourne has come ALIVE with art, music, and performance events … these are spread across the town waiting to be explored and enjoyed.
The winner of the Prize is due to be announced next week on 5th December … I guess I will revert – but I have to get my head round the entries – contemporary art is different: a learning curve!
Towner Eastbourne link - including photo by Rob Harris - showing the cuneiform inscription ...
Green Art Gallery - showing details re the Trafalgar Square plinth ...
Chicago Museum exhibits - "Lost Treasures of Iraq" ... lovely photos here ...
Wikipedia - Nineveh ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
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24 comments:
Wow that's amazing that he made the statue from date syrup cans. That must have been a lot of work Very cleverly done I first thought it was a sfinx but than I read about the winged bull Unbelievable how much a war inflicts of human beings. I hadn't even thought about all these treasures disappearing because of war and why. Everyone loses. So sad
That is an amazing sculpture - so much work involved. The artist must despair at what has happened to his country.
Hillary I tried to find the post about The cafe terrace but couldn't find it If you wish you could put a search button on your sidebar. There is one in the layout section when you add a gadget.
That's quite the sculpture. I do enjoy seeing things where they made use of items that would otherwise be discarded.
Thank you so much for more rabbit holes to get lost down.
I delight in public art. So often the artist reminds of things that should not (I dare so must not) be forgotten.
Like you though I often struggle with contemporary art. A work in progress like so many others.
Thank you thank you for writing about Michael Rakowitz. My favourite artists were often famous for focusing on different cultures, and Michael is a perfect example - a Jewish Iraqi mum and an American dad. Yet I hadn't seen his art before and I haven't read his academic journal articles.
Hari OM
That is a glorious piece of work! If you are interested, the Empire podcast I mentioned in a recent post is currently covering the Persian empire... YAM xx
That is an amazing piece of work. A lot of the time I find contemporary art to be self-absorbed and pretentious (just my uneducated opinion) but this is truly inventive.
@ Marja - it is certainly an incredible statue - I need to spend more time inspecting it - now I've learnt a little bit about Lamassu and the artist. There's always so much to consider ... I'm glad the post stimulated those thoughts and realisations ...
Re your second comment - the search bar ... is a great asset if you don't eclectically post - like I do! Still the Cafe Terrace link does work and I see you've commented on both Van Gogh posts - thank you ...
@ Janice - you and Barry could get down here to look at it?! So many must be in desperation mode about the world at large - and it's awful Israel has already started bombing again ...
@ Liz - yes recycling can produce some amazing pieces of work - domestic or artistic as here ...
@ EC - I know more rabbit holes - caught me too. Public art - certainly puts a perspective on things and I enjoy seeing it around ... there are apparently 48 other public art places to visit ... I suspect I won't make them all?!
Diaghilev's first exhibitions in St Petersburg in the 1890s introduced contemporary art of that period to audiences ... I find that juxtaposition rather fascinating ...
@ Hels - excellent: you know about Michael Rakowitz - if the Towner weren't exhibiting the sculpture Lamassu I'd have never heard of him ... now I won't forget. I hope the links will give you an insight into his work ... so you can learn a little more - I have, but I'm delighted you have heard of him.
@ Yam - thank you ... I'm so pleased you can see the magnificence of this piece and its historical links. For some reason I can't get into podcasts ... but I do note your prompt re the Persian Empire ... something I should learn about ... I suspect via books.
@ Ian - you'd appreciate this art - being an artist yourself. I'm waiting to see the winner of the Turner Prize and to spend more time looking at and trying to understand the four entries ...
However - yes - it is truly inventive - I guess to be exhibited on the plinth in Trafalgar Square ... Rakowitz, the sculptor, needed to be special.
Thanks so much to you all for being here and for your interesting and informative comments - I must study some more! Cheers Hilary
Wow. What a sculpture and background story. Indeed contemporary art can be puzzling, but also astounding once you get the background and interpretation. It is not intuitive, but it is worth the exploration. Thank you for the rabbit holes. Have a grand weekend of arts.
I like the idea of art made from recycled objects.
Good morning, Hilary: I am back from a delightful trip to Cuba to re-enter the equally delightful world of your blog. You do find interesting topics well off the beaten track and I am grateful for that. Recycling in any form is of course close to my heart and this proves that great art can go hand in hand with utilitarianism. Date syrup cans - I am not sure that I even knew that date syrup existed. But now I do! All the best - David
I remember reading about the destruction of Lamassu and other art by ISIS. So much destruction has been wrought on art through the years by war.
That sculpture is fascinating, isn't it?
Cheers,
What a fascinating sculpture, Hilary. It looks authentically ancient and I love the idea that it’s constructed from date cans. A work of art with so many levels and messages!
@ Joanne - yes - it is stunning and fills the 'plaza'. Two of the Turner Prize entries befuddle me, two I can vaguely understand! Next year I must visit more often and attempt to get to grips with them. Pleasure re the rabbit holes.
@ Anabel - I agree ... recycling 'our rubbish' makes a great deal of sense - while this illuminates history too ...
@ David - I saw you'd been to Cuba again ... must have been lovely. I don't like doing what everyone else does - never have ... so I'm delighted you and others enjoy being here. Thank you re the reference to date syrup - I feel another post coming on.
@ Elizabeth - yes the destruction ISIS caused is appalling and still galls ... so unnecessary and so sad - why destroy things ... but as you note a great deal of destruction has been wrought on art through the years of various wars.
@ Sandra - the sculpture stands tall and proud ...
@ Val - the sculpture is quite extraordinary and does look authentically ancient - almost built from layers of scales, rather than cans. Definitely lots of messages to explore ...
Thanks for all your visits and comments - and thoughts re the inspiration behind the sculpture ... cheers from a very gloomy, damp Eastbourne - Hilary
I've never had date syrup. I imagine it'd be really good. Excellent art. A shame how underappreciated culture can be. I'm glad you shared this post.
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What a wonderful statue, I had no idea it was there!
Hi Keith - yes, it's fun to see - you must come over and look ... and see more of the exhibits around town or in the Towner ... it's interesting - cheers Hilary
Thank you for sharing this amazing date can art Hilary. Truly incredible medium for an art statement. Hugs xx
Hi, Hilary - That statue made from date syrup cans is absolutely incredibly on so many levels. How artists conceive and implement such unique pieces totally boggles my mind. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
Yup - Blogger still hates me. I am trying to get this comment to go through. That scultpure made from date syrup can is so incredible. I know that I will still be thinking about it for quite some time.
That sculpture made from date syrup can is so incredible. I know that I will still be thinking about it for quite some time. Thank you for shairng it with us!
@ Debby - isn't the sculpture amazing ... I must go and spend more time looking at it - on a sunny day! Exactly as you say ' a truly incredible medium for an art statement'. The sculptor offers us a very important message in this day and age - we need to pay attention to his ideals ...
@ Donna - thanks for all three of your comments - they do go through to the 'awaiting moderation spam folder' - I always check the two 'spam' folders and clear them out.
The sculptor's websites - the links I've posted give more information ... I found really informative.
Thanks to you both for commenting - cheers Hilary
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