Sculpture Top ten ever

1

The Warriors of Riac

5th century BC, Bronze

Museo Nacional de la Magna Grecia, Regio de Calabria

I travelled to Reggio Calabria to witness the two colossus discovered on the seabed of the Ionian sea, buried under the slab of eternity. Haughty giants who would make good basketball players, heroes from Antiquity of whom we know next to nothing. Who created them? Who do they represent? It doesn’t really matter. The only important thing is their powerful image and the time, imposing itself, colossal, like a fossil in bronze.

2

Majesty Batlló

Mid-12th century. Polychrome wood

MNAC, Barcelona

 It’s softening seeing this Christ with fish eyes and symmetrical hair and beard, it could be any man, dressed in Barça colours, ending up hanging on a cross. Its serene beauty stands well the test of time, while I see its prominent belly over its belt. Long gone is the image of a suffering Jesus, a common theme subsequently. Its latest owner, Enric Batlló, gives name to this Christ in Wood, a posthumous homage to his extraordinary donation.

3

Penitent Magdalene

DONATELLO. 1453–1455. Wood

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florencia

This Magdalene, wearing a coat from her own hair, looks like a man. It was carved on wood by Donatello, the finest sculptor of the Quattrocento, who broke away from the stereotypical saint as a seducing lady. Here, she is a penitent hermit, obsessed with Jesus. A closer look at her emaciated face and hollow cheekbones, we find the eyes that still love Christ, her master.

4

Pietà

Michelangelo. 498–1499. Carrara marble

Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

From Michelangelo’s Pietà, the Everest of Renaissance sculpture, I am not only impressed at its serene beauty, its sublime mixture of spirituality and humanity coming from the statue, but I am particularly obsessed with a feature of its anatomy, that can only be achieved by a great sculptor: the fold on Jesus’ right armpit when the Virgin Mary holds the weight of his body on her lap. Marble turns into skin.

5

Perseus with the head of Medusa

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 1545–1554. Bronze

Piazza della Signoria, Florence

I like watching this sculpture from behind and see the monstrous face of the back of Perseus’ helmet. Then I look at it from the front and realize that it is a blend of tradition and modernity, between classical sculpture and Michelangelo, and it is extremely light. It looks as if, like a comic hero, he is about to spread his wings and fly with his winged helmet and his fashion sandals.

6

Ecstasy of Saint Teresa

GIAN LORENZO BERNINI. 1647–1652. Marble

Santa Maria della Vittoria Church, Rome

No other image in western art gathers better than this one mystical experience and orgasm. The last time I saw it, I inserted one euro in the box to switch on the light and enjoy the sight of marble and passion: the beloved angel comes with a sword and, barely brushing the saint’s untouched body, is transfigured in a seizure both spiritual and carnal. Bernini, sensuous sculptor

7

Monument Lion of Lucerne

BERTEL THORVALDSEN. 1819–1821. Marble

Lucerne

I will never forget the day when, walking around Lucerne, fate brought me to the top of a hill to see the lion carved by Thorvaldsen. A magical place where the King of the jungle sleeps majestically in his rock cage, profiling its beautiful presence against a lake, like a Narcissus in a zoo. A street band was playing Cuban music, yet another cultural contrast beyond space and time.

8

Sleeping muse

CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI. 1910. Bronze

Metropolitan Museum, New York

I fell in love with this golden face, polished forehead like a river stone, slit eyes, pointed nose and small mouth. The simplicity of this object, a head turned into an egg, houses its sublime beauty, in the early years of the 20th century and life was still celebrated. Sculpture of pure and absolute forms, perfect like a jewel. I only wish she wakes up one day, opens her eyes and looks at me.

9

Walking man

ALBERTO GIACOMETTI. 1960-1961. Bronze

Private collection, New York

Every time I see this lean man by Giacometti, he reminds me of the photograph by Henri Cartier-Bresson of the sculptor himself crossing the street in the rain, sheltered in his raincoat. I think Giacometti’s work is a metaphor of life: a man walking aimlessly, lost in the vastness of the world. Ironically, one of his versions is the most expensive sculpture ever sold.

10

Mamá

LOUISE BOURGEOIS. 1999. Bronze, marble and stainless steel

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

Like Gregor Samsa’s nightmare, I am tormented by memories of Louise Bourgeois’ spider, invading my city and razing everything to the ground, locals and tourists. Somewhat extraterrestrial, this monumental sculpture watches over the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. You can walk between its long bronze legs and never touch its cold and sinister belly. A spider metamorphosed into a mother. Woke up, she, so beautiful, was still there…