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The Sculpture
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Apparition takes the form of a large deer’s head, about a metre and a half high, made from simple cone-like shapes of steel, welded together. Oval holes cut into the metal form the creature’s eyes and its antlers are held in place by metal rods. The sculpture’s quirky abstract qualities are highlighted by its bright yellow colour which also makes it appear as if it is illuminated in some way.
Auke was inspired by a Roman sculpture he saw in the Copenhagen Museum, Denmark. The elegant animal’s head, probably a fallow deer’s, was carved in the first century BC. It formed part of a group depicting the hunting Goddess Artemis. Auke was touched by the badly damaged head which had been reassembled from broken pieces of marble. Grey lines painted onto his sculpture make reference to the cracks in the original and to the texture of the carved stone. A conical protrusion on the deer’s neck suggests the remains of the sacrificial weapon used to kill it.
By creating his own version of the Roman sculpture, and placing it in Tyrebagger Wood, Auke hopes to make connections between the forest and the deer of ancient legends and myths. The severed head, like some sort of bizarre hunting trophy, is also intended to evoke a strange dream or happening. |
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