BIBLICAL SCRIPTURE:

“… God created man in His own Image … the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.”

GENESIS 1:26 – 2:7

Medium-size table top sculpture. Stainless steel, bronze and mahogany.
God’s Hand: stainless steel, satin finish
Adam:         bronze, classic rich dark brown patina
1^st base:      stainless steel, highly polished to reflect sculpture like a mirror
2^nd base:     black mahogany wood
57cm high x 60cm long x 57cm wide, 2 feet high x 2 ft long x 2 ft wide

DESCRIPTION OF SCULPTURE

Richard Minns has re-invented himself many times since he entered the world of sculpture at the age of 70. Over the past 12 years, his talent and his skills have continued to soar, and, with his thorough knowledge of anatomy and his passion for the human body, he has established himself as one of the leading neo-classical sculptors today.

Greatly influenced by the sculptures of the Old Masters Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Cellini and Bernini, and by the paintings of Rubens, and then the Impressionists Rodin and Bourdelle, all of  Richard’s sculptures have appropriately been cast in bronze with a classic rich dark brown patination.

Now, for the first time, with his “Creation Of Adam III”, Richard has begun casting in stainless steel.  And, with the “Creation Of Adam III”, Richard has stepped into the world of modern contemporary sculpture.  This will be followed by “Atlas Shrugged”, another sculpture cast in stainless steel and in bronze, creating a total contemporary sculpture, in which instead of translating a story from the Bible or classical mythology, Richard seeks to capture in art and to freeze in time an idea, a philosophy, an emotional feeling illustrating man’s indomitable spirit of freedom and individuality.

This is Richard’s third sculpture in his “Creation Of Adam” series. This is his first venture into mixed media using stainless steel, bronze and mahogany wood.

Richard’s first “Creation Of Adam I” is a small wall bronze relief he created many years ago on the Eurostar train from London to Val d’Isere France for some Alpine skiing. He is very proud that it was accepted as the only art / sculpture in the famous American Church in London, which served as an air raid shelter during World War II.

Richard’s second “Creation Of Adam II” is a large sculpture, converting Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Masterpiece of God Creating Adam (the famous touching fingers) into a three-dimensional bronze sculpture. It is presently on exhibit in the prestige Manhattan Tower.

In “Creation Of Adam III”, Adam is springing to life inside God’s Hand. God’s huge, powerful hand is cast in stainless steel, polished with a satin finish.  When the light dances on it, it will shine with a spiritual glow, signifying holiness and the omnipotence of our Creator.

Adam is cast in bronze with a classic rich dark brown potash patination, creating a human contrast to the flowing satin finish stainless steel.

A highly polished stainless steel base (mounted on a further black mahogany base) acts as a mirror reflecting a double-image of the back of God’s hand, adding an additional supernatural aura.

ARTIST’S INTERPRETATION

“I am a neo-classical sculptor. Since classical sculpture has normally always been cast in bronze, this is the first time I have cast a sculpture in stainless steel. However, I love the result. When light is focused on bronze, it is absorbed by the metal, creating dramatic highlights and shadows. But when light is focused on polished stainless steel, it is reflected back like a mirror. The combination of bronze and stainless steel creates an overwhelming drama.”

“In “Creation Of Adam III”, my bronze Adam springs to life inside God’s huge, powerful, stainless steel Hand. God’s stainless steel forearm rises in a 45 degree angle from a highly polished stainless steel base, which acts as a mirror, reflecting a double-image of the back of God’s hand.  An original foundry-photo I took outside showing God’s Hand mirrored against a reflection of the blue sky demonstrates the wonderful images one can enjoy from the combination of bronze and polished stainless steel.”

“My goal was that God’s Hand and forearm would shine with a powerful spiritual glow, signifying holiness and the omnipotence of our Creator. You can be the judge to decide if I achieved this goal.”

“Depending of course on the sculpture, I will continue to cast many future  sculptures in a combination of mixed media, combining stainless steel, aluminum, bronze, brass and copper to get the maximum power and effect.”

“I have never considered myself to be a modern contemporary artist since I walk in the footsteps of Michelangelo, Rodin and Bourdelle. But now I see that I can use my skills to produce art most effectively in the contemporary / modern plane. The creative possibilities are unlimited and I am filled with excitement as I look forward to working more in mixed media.”

To create “Creation Of Adam III, I worked with four (4) ingredients:
(1)      First, the bronze Adam is in a classic dark rich brown patination.
(2)      Second, God’s stainless steel hand and forearm.
(3)      Third, the stainless steel highly polished base designed to mirror and reflect the back of God’s hand.
(4)      Fourth, and most important, the overhead light.  When a proper overhead light is focused on the sculpture at a 45 degree angle, the entire sculpture lights up and glows, giving the sculpture a spiritual aura, signifying the omnipotence of our Creator, the Creator of all things. Since proper lighting is imperative for this sculpture, I list 'lighting' as the fourth ingredient.”

“I hope that you enjoy this sculpture half as much as I enjoyed creating it.”

Richard L. Minns