Tuesday 9 October 2012

Mea Culpa

Walking through Grizedale Forest a figure spotted in the distance in the dappled shade.  Was it running?
Coming closer I discovered the figure was not running but pulling.  Both figures connected by the rope.
His face gazing sightless the rope behind and around his neck.  A struggle between two joined figures
One being hoisted into the air.
The two larger than life figures (about 10 feet or 3 metres) are a sculpture called "Mea Culpa" (My mistake) by the artist Robert Bryce Muir.  Seeing it in its deep forest setting it is like seeing some ancient cullture in the silence of the forest being continually enacted.  Are they working together or against each other.  I think the atmosphere will alter with the seasons. 
 It is interesting to see how the strips on the tree echoes the strips of riveted metal of the figures.

I discover Muir's explanation of his installation is that the figures are locked in a mutually dependent struggle for survival .  "A clash of titans and neither will yield like the final conflict between Achilles and Hector in Homer's Iliad, a monumental struggle which is both a flight to the death but also a fight for life".

Footnote
Achilles is the hero of the Iliad he is the son of the king of the Myrmidons and when he refuses to fight to annoy Agamemnon the Greek commander his gentle and amiable friend Patroclus appears in the armour of Achilles at the head of the Myrmidons and is slain by Hector. Now you know this is not going to end well. Hector is portrayed by Homer as the noblest and most magnanimous of the Trojans but that will not save him for after holding out for ten years he is killed by Achilles.  "Alas the gods have lured me to my destruction..."  Here is the story of the end of Hector and Achilles.

An entry to ABC Wednesday - journey through the alphabet. 
 

13 comments:

carol l mckenna said...

Amazing sculptures and excellent post ~ very creative and informative ~ (A Creative Harbor)

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Most definitely a 'wow' post! I do wonder how I would feel encountering art in the middle of the woods like that. And, how is it that it hasn't been vandalized? Pretty amazing.

EG CameraGirl said...

Great post! What a neat place to install a sculpture!

VioletSky said...

I would certainly not expect something like this in the woods!

Roger Owen Green said...

I've seen pictures before; STILL fascinating
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Wanda said...

Amazing sculptures. So magnificent and real.

Leslie: said...

Wow! I am aMazed by this. Please go and take more photos to post showing the sculptures in the various seasons. I'd love to see that.

Leslie
abcw team

Rajesh said...

Great work of art and creativity.

Chubskulit Rose said...

How beautiful!

Manok... find out what it is
Rose, ABC Wednesday

Lmkazmierczak said...

So cool♫ Love your info on this♪

Gerald (SK14) said...

Not heard of these before - not sure I'd fancy getting close up.

Dave said...

I would be surprised to see these in the forest if not expecting them. They look well made though. Thanks for the story about them - Dave

Jenny Woolf said...

It's always disconcerting to come across a sculpture that looks real! Fascinating.