The Painter Edvard Weie 1906 - 1910

This is Marius Hammann's bronze bust of the painter Edvard Weie, sitting here at the SMK. The surface is really worked, with a kind of agitated energy, like Hammann built it up bit by bit. You can almost feel his hands on the clay. I find myself staring at that small bow-tie. It’s like a little explosion of material, a concentrated burst of attention amidst the more sober handling of the face and jacket. There’s something absurd and wonderful about that detail. The face is serious, almost severe, and then *bam*, this tiny party erupts at his throat. It makes me think of Rodin, but with a quirkier sensibility. Both artists share that fascination with process, but Hammann has a little more playful humor. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfection, but about the ongoing conversation between the artist and their materials. It's a place where seriousness and absurdity can meet, and that's what makes it so endlessly compelling.