Jyl Bonaguro
Enfolded, Wing Series,
Hand carved statuario marble and chinese ink,
H 19.5 x W 8 x D 3 inches
The human desire to take flight and abandon this earth-bound state is timeless. My series of Wings in hand carved Italian marble, paper, charcoal, mixed media and video was created out of the concept of the human condition. Immortality and beauty are only transient forms of illusion. The fragmented wings represent the aspiration of the soul towards higher powers and the symbolic embrace of change. In present times, marble as a medium has suffered a decline in the art world. Until the pandemic forced the world to slow down, it was quarried at an unprecedented rate for cladding effects on homes and buildings instead of for fine art sculpture.
Enfolded (detail)
The beauty of ancient marble sculptures is their ability to last for thousands of years exposed to the elements, and slowly return back into Mother Nature without harming it. My sculptures are simple hand carved pieces of marble that will also someday be reclaimed by nature. I have only just borrowed a piece of the earth. I do not use chemicals or toxins, so that eventually, they may be returned the way they naturally arrived. There is nothing more timeless than the ability to let go and absolve yourself of the insistence or forcefulness of humanity on nature. We can coexist.
1. What role does the artist play in society?
The role of the artist in society is perspective. The artist must be able to step back and study society and make art that critiques and compliments it.
2. What art/artist/style are you most interested in?
Large Scale & Monumental Sculpture
3. Do you have an idealized or dream project? If so, explain.
Yes, the Modern Athena sculpture. To honor and celebrate women in art and the world at large, I am creating a sculpture that captures the strength, wisdom, and beauty of the female figure in the same imposing scope and scale as Michaelangelo’s David. There are usually two paths for female figures: pious or seductive. I wish to create a strong, yet universal woman, a Modern Athena, out of a single block of marble. https://jylbonaguro.com/modern-athena-sculpture/
4. How does your eye move through the sculpture? Did you make any
intentional choices to make that happen?
My eye travels over the sculpture as a whole and then focuses on detail points of interest. I do not try to make the eye of a viewer travel over my sculptures in a particular way, but I do try to make them stimulating visuals that allow the viewer to return time and time again to look more closely.
5. Can you explain the materials you use and why you use them?
In present times, marble as a medium has suffered a decline in the art world. Until the pandemic forced the world to slow down, it was quarried at an unprecedented rate for cladding effects on homes and buildings instead of for fine art sculpture. The beauty of ancient marble sculptures is their ability to last for thousands of years exposed to the elements, and slowly return back into Mother Nature without harming it.