This exceptional artistic porcelain sculpture represents a radical deconstruction of one of Western art history's most sacred motifs: the Renaissance Pietà. Departing from traditional religious iconography, Hodge removes the classic masculine presence, replacing it with a second female form resting weightlessly across her companion's lap. The structural cylindrical base features a dense, multi-layered landscape of abstract geometric tribal bands and incised text applied through precise sgraffito carving, further enriched with black underglazes, crimson tones, and bright gold luster. By sealing the figures within a world of pure, mutual tenderness and shared sanctuary, this ceramic artifact functions as a powerful archival monument designed for premium contemporary art collections.
Pieta, 2019, is a striking sculpture that exemplifies the core themes of the artist's thesis, where the woman transitions from an art historical trope to a contemporary archetype of tenderness and tenacity. The three series that make up her thesis show all center around the woman as an art historical trope who becomes a contemporary archetype of tenderness and tenacity with her own narrative. The tradition of the woman as muse or object is questioned and turned upside down as she gives her women the position of subject, i.e., the position of power. The jars, which uphold pairs of women, are the ultimate overturn of male dominance as she removes and replaces all male characters from famous artworks with women. The couples care for one another and are so consumed in their connection that the viewer is ignored. They do not exist for the viewer’s fantasy because their desires are already fulfilled. Through these three bodies of work, she creates archival objects which combine to build a narrative of women’s power, based on the Love Ethic, as discussed by bell hooks in her book, All About Love. Furthermore, notions of power are investigated in tandem with Mary Follett’s writings on power, which delineate Western conception as power-over, and the feminist ideal as power-with.
Incorporate a work with a profound and historical curatorial background into your space. This artistic porcelain sculpture by Alex Hodge is available on our website.
