Immediate Response
My initial response to Antony Gormley’s cast iron sculpture from his Another Time series was the expanse of the ocean and the size difference between the life size man and the sea. Furthermore, the choice of Gormley to use iron is interesting given that it will rust and break down faster than other higher end metals that will not rust as fast. The depth of the figure is also intriguing. Why set out the figure in waist high water? Why not neck height or only water at the ankles? Overall, the scene made me feel somewhat at peace, but also lonely. I specifically thought about ships on the open ocean because the rust on the man reminded me of rust on the underside of large freighters or tankers.
Objective Description
The statue is a man made of cast iron, standing on a beach in waist deep water. He is rusted to the point where his color is brown with a tinge of orange. His face has little to no expression and he looks outward to the open ocean, gaze locked on the horizon. At the time of the picture, the water is calm. The statue’s pose is very calm as well with arms at the side, standing tall and straight, with the head up. The chest area has nipple-like points in which it seems that welding or excess metal was cut away. Those same style points can be found in the same location on the back at the tip of the shoulder blades.
Technical Decisions
The craftspersonship of the statue is very interesting given the quality of the surface. The surface of the man seems to be fairly smooth, looking past the rust. There are no obvious dents, cut aways, or significant sculpting concepts that are represented in the piece, aside from the minor nipple detailings. Along with this, the presentation of the statue is fairly simple. The man stands with his back facing land and has an endless stare at the horizon. The posture of the man is also fairly plain, given he is more static and at rest. He is not at attention, nor is he slumped, rather he is simply standing in the ocean. However, these basic concepts added together start to portray a deeper meaning than a man standing on the beach.
The Work in the World
One fascinating connection I came up with while looking at Gormley’s statue was how it slightly resembled the Statue of Liberty in New York. They both stand out in the water, they are both made of metal, both of them have degraded metals, and finally they both represent something deeper than what meets the eye. Of course, the Statue of Liberty stands for freedom and the American dream, while also welcoming many immigrants into the country in the past. The meaning of Gormley’s statue is not quite the same, however. While the Statue of Liberty is very purposeful, the man on the beach seems very random and unplanned. He has no island he stands on or any robes to wear or torch to raise. He is plain.
The Story it Tells
The meaning behind Gormley’s statue on the beach can be interpreted in many ways, however it is in my opinion that he represents loneliness. I came to this conclusion via the previously discussed aspects such as posture, positioning, and other physical attributes he displays. For example, his back is turned towards the beach which portrays the idea that he has no one behind him to look back to. Another characteristic is that his stance is not angry or frustrated, or even happy, rather he is just still, like he is in the moment. His gaze seems to go on endlessly towards the horizon and does not stop short at the water or to examine what is in front of him. This gaze has a longing feeling to it, as if there is something he can not have. Furthermore, the statue’s half submergence in the water rids the viewer from seeing below the waist as to draw more focus to the upper half of the body where the heart and mind are. Lastly, the obvious lack of a companion puts the nail in the coffin, truly tying the idea that Gormley’s statue is all alone, lost at sea.