Unfinished business, Circa 2018

by David Middlebrook

Sculpture : wood, marble 182.88 x 60.96 x 60.96 cm

$80,000

One of the last works available by this artist

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About the artwork

Type

Unique work

Signature

Engraved signature

Authenticity

Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery

Invoice from the gallery


Medium

Sculpture: wood, marble

Dimensions cm inch

182.88 x 60.96 x 60.96 cm Height x Width x Depth

Display

The sculpture cannot be displayed outdoors


Tags

Conceptual

Chairs

Composition

Artwork sold in perfect condition

Artwork location: United States

This piece was inspired by two world famous artists : Michelangelo and Duchamp. As I become older I have become more aware of the possibility that there will be unfinished work in all our studios. Michelangelo is famous for his bound slaves and prisoners carved in marble but left unfinished. Using this technique I hand carved a common workshop stool as emerging from a block of pure white Carrara marble, one of the most rare and precious materials there is. Its from the same quarry in Italy as the famous “David”. The stool is a nod to Duchamp’s ready made works and the often forgotten working, common people whose labours make our lives better. Ai Weiwei has made a living using the stool to honor the workers of China. I wanted to make a overlooked common object become a precious object. Beauty can be achieved by any object with the proper presentation. The marble image sits on a wooden plinth that was commonly used for Millennium by the Romans for execution of art fabrication. It is used today by children in a game today called “Jenga”.
Middlebrook’s deliberate decision to assemble a wooden plinth with no obvious attachment points was no causal thought. Originally, plinths were used by the Romans to showcase their perfectly carved sculptures.  The twist here is that we have a hand carved, unfinished stool erected regally on a flawlessly assembled wooden plinth.  

David Middlebrook is an American artist known for his large-scale sculptures drawing on cultural experiences derived from his international artist residencies and love of travel. Middlebrook’s works address contemporary environmental and societal concerns from climate warming to migratory bird paths. Characterized by heavy and lasting materials, his artworks are made to stay and could be summarize in three words" Make Thought Visible"... As the artist like to say, "If I can imagine it ... I love the challenge of trying to create it."

Unique piece.
Marble and Seasoned Cedar Assembled.

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About the seller

Professional art gallery • United States

Artsper seller since 2022

Vetted Seller


Collector’s Guide

David Middlebrook

David Middlebrook

United States

Artist David Middlebrook is known for his large-scale sculptures drawing on cultural experiences derived from his international artist residencies and love of travel. Middlebrook's works address contemporary environmental and societal concerns from climate warming to migratory bird paths. Characterized by heavy and lasting materials, his artworks are made to stay, to remind the viewers, now and in the future, of important, universal messages. As a conceptual artist, Middlebrook's practice is driven to make the viewer think and ponder; What does this work mean? How is this made? How is it able to stand?

Middlebrook's latest sculpture, “Peace Monument", had him addressing one of the most important concepts of all: peace- specifically world peace. A timely piece taking into consideration what is happening in the world today. Engraved into the 9' tall, obelisk-like sculpture is the word “peace" in over 25 languages with a symbolic dove with an olive branch on top. The bulk of this totem symbolizes time representing past, present and future civilizations. Basalt benches surround the piece encouraging time to reflect with hope that peace is possible. This contemplative piece was unveiled on September 21, 2022, United Nations International Peace Day, at Morgan Hill Civic Center (San Francisco Bay Area).


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