Gorilla

Bård Breivik (b. 1948) is a recognised Norwegian sculptor who often works with simple, elementary shapes in stone. The workGorillais a characteristic example of this.

The title, and the roughly hewn shape with four massive legs, more than suggests that what we are looking at is one of the animal kingdom’s most powerful creatures. The gorilla is the largest species among the apes, and its compact majestic appearance is duplicated in Breivik’s highly abstract sculpture.

In addition, the ape is a frequent motif in art history, it has been perceived as a mirror of human beings, and with its mimicking abilities it can also serve as a symbol of art itself.