The sculptural experience of 80 Backs conveys the emotional truth our spines tell. Human backs often show feelings with more honesty than our faces. That’s because our spine shape follows the unconscious. While we’ve learned to control facial expressions – backs do as they may. Polish fiber artist Abakanowicz reveals this with profound clarity. The organic fibrous sacks of these 80 Backs read as forlorn. They beckon to viewers with such vulnerable sorrow.
Any gallery space these 80 Backs inhabit becomes a sacred space. They bring a stoic strength, as if real humans before viewers. Abakanowicz wove tough fibers and imprinted each as a unique individual. So, like people, no two are exact copies. But they all kneel in the same way – headless and bent low. In fact, she draped her burlap fibers over forms made from a single mold. Without heads these aren’t quite full human figures. Yet they’re relatable on a gut level.
Abakanowicz shows us that we are each different in some way. She also unites these 80 Backs into a singular work of art. Together they represent the resilience of the human spirit. Separate they are mere sad moments. As humans we sometimes lose our individuality in a crowd. Sometimes that’s the price one must pay to achieve greater strength. Viewers feel this power emanate from this Abakanowicz sculptural setting. It feels more like a temple than gallery exhibit thanks to the meditative vibe of these backs.
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