Sculpted from betrayal

A few days ago I received a call from Tash. A young lady in search of a photographer to help showcase a sculpture that had been in the family for decades. After being left the artwork following her parents divorce she thought it was time to sell on this beautiful piece and use the money for a productive purpose. Towards further education or to perhaps invest for her and her brother. Tash also told me that she would like to help buy materials for building an orphanage. The outcome of course depends on whatever handsome price a willing spender will pay for it.

Not knowing much about art myself I couldn't imagine what this alluring sculpture would fetch. After Tash explaining what she knew of it's origin I became increasingly intrigued, I wanted to see for myself what stole the hearts of her parents at the time they purchased a symbol of another souls suffering, endurance and ultimately her triumph.

So what do we know of this work of art. Bought in Lisbon the artist unknown, it's told was subject to betrayal at the hands of her husband, cheated on after years of marriage. The sculpture, half human half snail is said to represent turning her pain into resilience and strength. The shell symbolizes the weight of responsibilities she took on alone. What are normally known as snail eyes are in this instance horns, sitting so purposely on her unbending head representing betrayal. Yet it's also said they symbolise points of a crown to reflect her courage and being unashamed. The body of the snail moving slowly forward represents patience and her determination. The only clue left for us as to whom the artist is are 3 letters engraved into the side of the snails tail. ASD.

When Tash arrived with the snail lady I was instantly in awe of this piece. There's a softness about her, wistful strokes along her torso around her breasts down the length of her back, yet the strikes appear determined and full of purpose. It's metallic look due to being sculptured from or infused with bronze. There's so much subtle tone and texture, she's elegant, poised, fierce. And quite heavy.

There's a sound as if something small and delicate were sliding around a tiny space in the centre of the shell as you tip her from side to side. Tash believes the wedding ring of the artist resides now within the burdened shell. Perhaps it does, I certainly like to think that a part of ASD's sorrow has been locked away within the shell never again to see the light of day. It remains buried, while she endured, patched up her broken pieces and moved ever slowly on, never looking back, never again returning to that dark place where he left her so vulnerable.

That's the beauty of art. In whatever form it manifests from mind to matter, it tells a story. And if you open up to that story it doesn't end. What's one woman's history now becomes another woman's future and is at this very moment in time, my present.

I have personally fallen in love with the snail lady whose head does resemble batman. And the longer I wondered over her I realised other forms began to appear, like the smooth side of her shell resembling a kidney. Most likely not it's intended purpose but it was another aspect of this that pulled me further in. Suddenly the unknown, so overly compelling. And within me a new found respect for abstract, weird and wonderful art blossomed.

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