Courtship 2014

Teddy Cobeña’s sculpture “Courtship” is a bronze object that immediately captures the eye. The bird form is so smooth, it's almost like a pebble worn down by water. I’m really drawn to the texture - that polished bronze. It invites touch, but also suggests a certain distance, you know? Like something precious. And then there's this unexpected golden flash in the side of the bird. What is that? Is it another bird, or part of this bird? I love that it disrupts the smooth surface and adds a touch of mystery. The title "Courtship" makes you think about the rituals and gestures involved in finding a mate, and how we smooth ourselves down, reveal and conceal. It reminds me of the work of Constantin Brancusi, maybe, with its simplified forms, though Cobeña adds his own little twist of intrigue. Art’s always echoing, always in conversation. It’s never about settling on one meaning, but staying open to possibility.