Torso of Herakles, 2023
Benjamin Entner
Mortals and Gods is a series that translates the artifacts of childhood memory and experience into fragmentary ruins of Greco-Roman sculpture. Focusing initially on the figure, the series reinterprets toy action figure parts as monumental sculpture presented as if in the Classical wing of the aging museum of the mind. For this specific piece, I took the torso from a broken 4 inch Superman action-figure, reimagined it as if carved from stone, and scaled it to heroic proportions.
I create works that are the result of play or experimentation, and that range conceptually with my many interests: children’s literature, Classical sculpture, fire, Roman history, Michelangelo, patterns, sea life. Often the only constant is the importance placed on an imperfect and obsessive craft, whether seen or not, and a sarcastic sense of humour. Additionally, within the gravitas of the art space, I often try to inspire a childlike nostalgia and wonder by engaging the viewer with an object or environment that is fun, funny, playful, awesome, and/or rad.