Bird Man c. 1966

Editor: Here we have Dame Elisabeth Frink’s "Bird Man," which lives in the Tate collection. It’s not dated. The figure's texture and posture give it an unsettling, almost post-apocalyptic feel. What do you read in the visual language of this sculpture? Curator: The Bird Man is not merely a figure but a carrier of ancient, cross-cultural symbols. Can you see how the wings, though vestigial, evoke freedom and transcendence, yet are bound to earth? The rough texture, almost scarred, speaks of resilience and endurance. Editor: I hadn't considered the tension between the wings and the grounded stance. It's like a paradox, a longing for escape mixed with a stoic acceptance of reality. Curator: Precisely. Frink uses this imagery to tap into our collective memory, reminding us of humanity's eternal struggle between aspiration and limitation. Editor: That’s fascinating. I see now how the symbolic weight gives the sculpture such power. Curator: Indeed. Visual symbols speak volumes, don't they?