Sauvage

At the centre of this piece is how tethered we are to each other and the dynamics of trust and the beauty of human connection that follows from it. The model is Shibari performance artist Marie Sauvage. She posed seated and bound with ropes applied by another Shibari artist. I chose to crop the sculpture's composition to include only her torso and portrait, as I felt they conveyed enough of the emotion and tension created by the unseen bindings. Initially I considered this piece a sketch because of the time constraints I had when making it, but it came out a success and I am very happy with it and its contemporary style.

In this sculpture, I explore female strength, vulnerability, and the complexities of the female experience. The subject exudes an emotional depth and physical presence; her tilted head for example invites contemplation of the unseen forces that shape our experiences. What does this tilt signify? Is it submission, or are there layers beneath it that we can't see that are more powerful, like trust or love to another? The conundrum of strength versus vulnerability is especially pronounced by her open chest; Is it offering her heart as an offering or stretching forth her love as strength? This raises profound and deep questions about the human will. Is her will free, powerful and strong, or is it tethered, and if so to what or whom and why?

Year sculpted: 2021.