Another Escape Scene

While at the online collection of the
Speed Museum ,

looking at their version of
"Nydia, The Blind Flower Girl of Pompeii",

I came across this,
more recent relic of narrative sculpture,
"A Caballito" by Juan Munoz (1953-2001)


Just to be perfectly clear,

I hate most of this man's work as well,
and remember suffering through his
installation/invasion
of dozens of life-size white plaster zombies
in the great stairwell
at the Art Institute about 10 years ago.

But ...
but...

I actually like this piece
(especially this view)

and I find this a compelling,
enjoyable
figure sculpture,
with qualities like uplift, balance, scale, rhythm.

And while nobody has any idea
what story he's trying to tell,
I like it, whatever it is.

Comparable to the great Italians of the
last Century, like Manzu and Martini,
and maybe even to this famous piece on a similar theme
(which also has all the detail and carving wizardry
of the Nydia)





A less felicitous,
but not a disastrous view



and some close-ups of
some quickly made,
but not weakly made heads.


I think this guy could have been a great sculptor,
if he had lived longer,
and gotten out of
the contemporary art world.