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Ken Kinsley Bronze Figures

Listening to History 02
Bill Woodrow (British, b. 1948), bronze, 1995; cast 2001
.
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Grand Rapids, Michigan
October 16, 2012

Listening to History 01
Bill Woodrow (British, b. 1948), bronze, 1995; cast 2001

I posted a slightly different view of this, a slightly better view I think, on my DailyPhotos gallery and asked people to give their views on what the sculpture said to them. I also said I'd post my own views in the caption of an upload to this 'Sculpture' gallery. If you're interested in the comments of others, see the alternative shot here: http://smu.gs/WIMopl

As promised, my own views, written prior to reading any of the comments by other viewers.

Here is my current interpretation or reaction to the sculpture. I might feel and think something quite different the next time I contemplate this work.

I do think that a person's very first response to this sculpture is likely to be a smile or even a laugh at the anachronism of a book to the ear as a means of transmitting content. But in my case, and I suspect in the case of many others who see this, a more serious message starts to reveal itself upon longer viewing and contemplation. For me, the message was one of irony. The figure represents something to be avoided, resisted, rejected. The element of coercion represented by the blindfold of cords that bind the book to the listener's ear seemed to dominant my thinking.

The listener is in a passive or even submissive state, and is being spoon fed or even force fed the book's (history's) content in a way that renders him blind to its deeper meanings or to what deceptions and inaccuracies it might contain. (After all, isn't slavish acceptance of the literal meaning of every written or spoken word a form of blindness? Isn't propaganda just a big smoke screen, a figurative poke in the eye?) The moral seems to be that if we want to really understand history and how it affects our present and how it might affect our future, we must be active and willing participants in the learning process, not passive sheep-like followers. We must choose the books, read them of our own volition, and then think for ourselves about what they convey (figuratively with eyes wide open and more literally with an open mind).

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Grand Rapids, Michigan
October 16, 2012

Listening to History 00
Bill Woodrow (British, b. 1948), bronze, 1995; cast 2001
.
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Grand Rapids, Michigan
October 16, 2012

Listening to History
This was, to me, a powerful but enigmatic work. Much more mysterious and capable of multiple interpretations than a related installation of Woodrow's, 'Sitting on History', at the British Library in London.

I have now (Jan. 23) uploaded an alternative view in which I give my own thoughts about this work (http://smu.gs/WIUcYh). I loved reading your own comments, the funny ones as well as the serious ones. While Judy (fotoeffects) came closest to echoing my own interpretation, I don't disagree with any of the alternatives.

Thanks to all who contributed to the discussion. I hope viewers who arrive 'late to the party' will continue to expand the dialog. Even if you were or are too shy or too naturally reticent to put your own thoughts out in cyberspace, I hope you'll at least take the time to contemplate the subject.

DP022-2013. Posted January 22; processed January 21.

About the artist and the history of the work: by Bill Woodrow (British, b. 1948), bronze, first created in1995; cast 2001 (one of three)
.
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Grand Rapids, Michigan
October 16, 2012

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See photo in original gallery.

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