16/10/2017

Translating Ancient Forms – Timeless Sculptural Works by Gonzalo Fonseca

Over the last week I’ve watched a few art and design documentaries, one on American painter and artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, which was very inspiring indeed, and another titled Abstract: The Art of Design, which is a Netflix directed series. I recommend both if you have time, although contrasting in styles they are very fitting to this website and are sure to inspire you. Another that looks to be very inspiring is a documentary titled “Membra Disjecta: Gonzalo Fonseca and the Heart of Stone”, a new biographical film by Michael Gregory on sculptor Gonzalo Fonseca, the trailer of which can be seen below.

I have to admit, I’ve not really heard of the work of Gonzalo Fonseca before, which is a great shame considering the beauty in his work and the timeless nature of his forms. Fonseca was trained as a painter and became a sculptor in the mid-1960s, working mainly in limestone, brownstone, and sandstone in New York City. Later he turned his attention to marble in Italy, and worked in the same stone-working community as the likes of Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi.

This documentary delves into his life and the creativity behind his work, showcasing how he was inspired by ancient forms, such as the Pyramids and other archaeological finds, and how he was able to bring these to the modern world and make timeless pieces of sculpture. Obviously it’s great to see unique imagery of his sketchbooks and get an idea in to what his thought process was, but if you want to see these in person you should definitely visit The Noguchi Museum in New York as they are holding an exhibition from next week until early March, 2018. It’s sure to be a very inspiring collection of work. More information about the documentary can be found on the link below.

membradisjectafilm.com