Agalma Two Halves, 2017, urethane paint on electro galvanized coil, 387x91x335cm, Commission for the Sea Art Festival 2017
Agalma Two Halves Shane Bradford emphasizes
the notion of ¡®play¡¯ in art, inspired by the ancient Greek term ¡®Agalma¡¯ which
the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga describes as meaning ¡®ornament, masterpiece,
precious things¡¯, or beautiful objects of eternal joy. Huizinga asserts that the essence of visual
art is most powerfully discovered in its playful involvement with the audience.
The shape and colors of Bradford¡¯s hexagon embody several meanings. In terms of form, the work suggests the
giant Ferris wheel which reminds one of the London Eye, a traditional beach
entertainment ride in London, and emphasizes the spirit of unity which invites
one to see the world that stretches from Busan to London. The work also engages with
the playful concept of the form and colors of a beach ball, as well as
demonstrating a deliberate mimicry of the board game ¡®Trivial Pursuit¡¯, in
which the board is divided into 6 pie shapes with different colors. Here, brown symbolizes art and
literature, yellow is history, green is science and nature, blue is geography,
pink is entertainment, and orange is sports and leisure. Bradford¡¯s visually
pleasing work of art emphasizes the idea that play is an excellent catalyst for
the acquisition of knowledge.
|