Grands Ventres 1968

Alina Szapocznikow made this sculpture, Grands Ventres, and you can really see the hand of the artist, the sensitivity of the touch as she shaped the form. It's almost as if she let her hands lead the way, responding to the material and the shape that wanted to emerge. I imagine her working intuitively, feeling her way through the curves and contours, allowing the sculpture to evolve organically. You can see the artist's engagement with surface and form, the way the material is shaped and molded with an almost visceral quality. The sensuality and intimacy of the work make it all the more potent. Szapocznikow made these forms in a moment when other artists were exploding the body, and I see a connection to their work, but she also has her own distinct voice. It is amazing how artists can respond to each other across time and space. I think of her work when I’m in the studio, pushing the limits of what painting can be and finding new ways to express the fluidity of thought and feeling.