Why This Statue Didn't Get Famous Until It Crashed (6 pics)

This unusual sculpture entered the history of art as the first work done using bronze and electricity - usually called mixed media, but that's it in the light bulbs inside before that, Apparently, no one made such sculptures. "Expansion" (so the author called her work) not only received excellent reviews from critics, but also quickly became famous thanks to the history of its creation, which worthy of at least the screenwriter's pen.





So, the American Paige Bradley created this sculpture in 2004, and initially, as you might guess, it was just the figure of a woman who sits in a lotus position and meditates.

Then this topic was relevant, fashionable - perhaps Bradley's work could well just be replicated for installation in all sorts of themed establishments, restaurants, parks, at most some small exhibitions.

But the problem is that even this banal meditator the figure of the author did not work - well, at least mythology now it is like this.



What exactly she did not like is not reported, but if Considering that in fact it was a self-portrait, then there is nothing to be surprised at. You never know who among us sometimes wants to break even the mirror in which he looks (especially in the morning).

The artist smashed an unsuccessful sculpture out of annoyance - and it naturally shattered into pieces. "Eureka!" - exclaimed she began to collect fragments of the plaster figure from the floor.

She then poured each fragment in bronze, and from these metal fragments blinded herself anew (well, that is, her self-portrait), deliberately leaving gaps exactly along the split lines.



It turned out such a broken woman in every sense, however, something was missing. But there was not enough, one might say, inner fire - light bulbs have been replaced.

So, perhaps, "Expansion" is also the first sculpture that works only "from the outlet", that is, from electrical networks.

By the way, it’s hard to say why the authors are required all the time some explanations and answers to the question in the style of "what did you want to say this." But it seems that Paige Bradley had to come up with something, therefore, usually in the annotations to the "Expansion" they write about the fact that there is no limits of human capabilities, that it is necessary to overcome conventions and stereotypes, and a person must shape his own destiny.



Perhaps some of you will see in this work just such meaning, although it seems that the image of a broken woman, inside of which is burning light is generally self-sufficient. And if we look for beautiful explanations, then it would be better if it was about love and the same metaphorical light that comes from loving people, especially if their heart is broken...

Oh well - it's just that Bradley, who was then about 30 years old, many works on the subject of human aspirations escape from the world of conventions.

In fact, most of all in her approach to art what's interesting is that she thought the artists got too carried away abstractions and pay little attention to people themselves, and in the context of their activities - draw and sculpt people a little, let's say so.



Therefore, her most famous works, performed both before and after the Expansion that made her famous, depict people - usually women and usually naked. However, the "Expansion" itself was also repeated more than once by the author himself, including in the form of a variation on a theme.

Even the two-meter original itself several times copied for various galleries, not to mention other copies, including including quite commercial ones (for those same restaurants and fitness centers).

But the "main" sculpture called "Expansion" was installed in New York near the Brooklyn Bridge and quickly became local tourist attraction.



It is natural that many planned its inspection for the evening or even at night - during these periods, the sculpture had to look special bright, both literally and figuratively. Although the day is quite looks like.