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RICHARD L. MINNS
“ATLAS SHRUGGED V”
Large
Sculpture
“THE PHILOSOPHY OF AYN RAND”
ON INDIVIDUALITY:
ON ART:
ON RICHARD MINNS’ SCULPTURE (AWARD FROM THE AYN RAND
INSTITUTE):
ARTIST’S INTERPRETATION “ATLAS SHRUGGED V” is an independent sculpture standing on its own as Original Art. But it is now an integral part of my renowned ATLAS SHRUGGED QUADRILOGY, changing it to the ATLAS SHRUGGED QUINTOLOGY: A series of FIVE (5) different, but inter-related, sculptures. Each illustrates Ayn Rand’s philosophy, and her Classic Novel, “Atlas Shrugged”. Each (I am told) is a Masterpiece in itself. All my life as a Sculptor, my goal is to achieve maximum emotion and maximum movement … and, in many sculptures: levitation. After creating over 100 sculptures, I have finally achieved my goal, at age 91, during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown. I have achieved levitation. I have conquered Gravity. (It’s an illusion, of course. But it works.) In 1957, Ayn Rand introduced the world to a new kind of Hero. A Hero molded from the best within man; a Hero modeled from the best within woman. Heroes who exemplified the joy of individual achievement and, therefore, the joy of Life. With passion and conviction, Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged“ speaks to the Hero in all of us. My goal is to illustrate the Heroic in Man and Woman. To show them, not as they are, but how they could be … and should be. Both John Galt and Dagny Taggart display more beauty and physical excellence than in any other ATLAS sculpture. I am a Neo-Classical Sculptor, greatly influenced by the Old Masters Michelangelo and Bernini and by the founders of modern sculpture, Rodin and Bourdelle. Heretofore, I have used my skills to tell the stories of the larger-than-life Heroes of Biblical and Classical Mythology. I am an Objectivist and I have also been influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand. Now, I aim 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 also my most complicated sculpture: Patinated Bronze, Aluminum, Polished Stainless Steel. It has been in my head for a long time and I just had to create it. It was a labour of Love. Luckily, I am in a financial position so that I could afford to create it to please myself. I had to fly-in a sculptor friend 3 times during Lockdown, bringing me armatures and other elements, and working with me. The Stainless Steel Elements (Base and Straps) were cast in China and shipped-in because my London Foundry could not cast stainless steel. Most of my sculptures are limited Editions of 9. Heretofore, I have always produced ONE complete sculpture, which I keep as an Artist’s Proof (AP), and then re-cast up to 9 Editions when the orders come in. This time, because of Lockdown and the fact that all the elements could not be cast in the same Casting Foundry, I have produced a total of THREE (3) sculptures at the same time. I will keep one as an Artist’s Proof. The remaining TWO will be offered for sale. At this time, one has been sold just from a preliminary mailing, so only one remains. There will be no more. The long-anticipated moment of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged masterpiece is when John Galt and Dagny Taggart finally meet. In the book, Dagny follows John in her plane, which becomes out of control, and it crashes. John Galt easily lifts Dagny’s unconscious body in his arms and carries her to safety. He may have said: “I’ve got you, Dagny. You’re Safe”. First, I had to tie this into my ATLAS SHRUGGED QUADRILOGY, changing it to my ATLAS SHRUGGED QUINTOLOGY. My interpretation is as follows: “Dagny has created her own perfect world, free of the weight of freeloaders who do not work and who are supported by the State. However, Dagny’s world is too perfect and it is out of control. It soars in the air on its own power like a big balloon, carrying Dagny with it. John Galt pulls Dagny safely back to reality so he can combine her world with his world, giving it the balance that it needs.” I now thank each of you for your support, which inspires me to keep creating. If you should end up owning ATLAS SHRUGGED V, I only hope that you enjoy it half as much as I enjoyed creating it.
With Love and
Respect to all,
DESCRIPTION OF THE SCULPTURE Richard has created his own sculptural language: realistic and physical, with anatomical perfection, highly charged with emotion and movement, conveying sexuality in the way of Michelangelo, Rodin, Bernini and Bourdelle. Richard understands the possibilities of the male and female nude and the spectacle of muscles in movement. Every inch of ATLAS SHRUGGED V, from head to toe, conveys the total spectrum of human emotion. The sculpture stands 4ft 5 inches (132cm) tall and 3ft 7 inches (116cm) wide. But, when put on a 2ft 8 inch high Pedestal, to achieve proper viewing height so that the viewer’s Eyes make direct contact with John Galt’s eyes, Dagny holding the World will soar to over 7 feet in the Air. This sculpture can work well in the center of the room so people can view it from all sides like in a Museum or Gallery. Or, it can work well against the wall since the turntable hidden in its base will allow the viewer to turn it around 360°. If it is displayed next to a window overlooking sky, landscape and water, it will make a magnificent silhouette against the skyline during the day as Dagny is totally airborne. The sun will dance on the sculpture during the day and an overhead light will bring John and Dagny ALIVE in the evening. This sculpture, created during the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic lockdown in Richard’s 91st year, is in the opinion of Richard’s Gallery a masterpiece.
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