Bronze
The empress
Story of bronze
Wu Zetian was a woman of humble origins who became empress thanks to her charms and her wiles … and her crimes. She went on to preside over China for almost half a century. Her posture with her neck stretched seems to reveal her quest for power and authority. The breastplate meanwhile symbolises the refinement of Chinese civilisation.
“A long neck appeared at my fingertips, followed by a chin. Working on the breastplate, I began to imagine the headpiece. Once the statue was moulded in plaster, I finally began to sculpt the authority in the tension of the chest, how she holds her head, and a sense of the ‘Middle Kingdom’ …”
ATL
About the work
Bronze’s size : 36-cm high
N° 1/8 – Patina : Black (reserved)
N° 2/8 – Patina : Black Olive
