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RICHARD L. MINNS
“ATLAS
SHRUGGED II”. PHILOSOPHY OF AYN RAND
ON OBJECTIVISM:
ON INDIVIDUALITY:
ON ART:
ON SCULPTURE:
DESCRIPTION OF
SCULPTURE In the first sculpture in the series, ATLAS SHRUGGED I: “ESCAPE TO FREEDOM”, Atlas has literally smashed his way out of the suffocating world of Collectivism, escaping to Freedom, in order to create his own perfect World (now appropriately depicted in Gold instead of Silver), a world conceived in freedom of individual rights and embodied in laissez faire Capitalism. In this, the second sculpture in the series, “ATLAS SHRUGGED II – GENESIS: A NEW GOLDEN WORLD OF INDIVIDUALISM”, Atlas has achieved his goal. He has created his own perfect world, conceived in freedom of individual rights and embodied in laissez faire Capitalism. The new golden world is now rising in the air on its own power, no longer requiring Atlas to struggle with the weight of the World on his shoulders. The new world supports itself. Atlas stands strong, pensive, reflective, poised for action. An indomitable man of purpose. Ready to forge his own individual destiny. This sculpture has been rightfully called very Rodinesque, and it is obvious that Richard was greatly influenced by Auguste Rodin, as well as by Michelangelo. Note Atlas’ dropped shoulder and extended left arm, with dramatic expressive fingers which were obviously influenced by Rodin’s “Adam” and the magnificent hands and expressive fingers of Pierre de Wissant in Rodin’s “Burghers of Calais”. You will also see the influence of Michelangelo where Richard was influenced by the Old Master’s “David”, his powerful “Day” in the Medici Chapel and the Old Masters’ “Victory” in the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence. Atlas is in bronze, with a classic rich dark brown patination. The world, and the straps holding the world, are polished Brass, reflecting a brilliant gold when the light dances on it. The circular base is polished Stainless Steel, reflecting a mirror double image of the sculpture. A turntable is hidden inside the base so the sculpture can be rotated around 360º with ease.
ARTIST’S INTERPRETATION “I am a Neo-Classical Sculptor, greatly influenced by the Old Masters. Heretofore, I have used my skills to tell the stories of the Heroes of Biblical and Classical Mythology. This time, my aim was to capture in Art and to freeze in time, an idea, a philosophy, an emotional feeling illustrating Man’s indomitable spirit of freedom and individuality. Individualism against Collectivism.” “’Objectivism’, the philosophy created by the Russian-American Philosopher / Novelist Ayn Rand, had a profound influence on my early life and the lives of my colleagues. Then everything was possible in our young eyes, and we were ready to conquer the world. Rand expressed her philosophical ideas in her classic writings and novels, including ‘The Fountainhead’ (Remember the movie starring Gary Cooper), ’Atlas Shrugged’, ‘The Virtue of Selfishness’, ‘Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal’. Steve Jobs, for example, could be Ayn Rand’s perfect archetype.” “My Atlas is not the usual Herculean-bearded Titan hulk, but a tall, slim, muscular, clean-shaven athlete. (My interpretation of the essence of a composite of Rand’s larger-than-life super Heroes: Howard Roark, Hank Rearden, John Galt, Francisco d’Anconia. Atlas has broken free of the World of Collectivism and has created his own world conceived in freedom of individual rights and embodied in laissez-faire Capitalism. I call this sculpture ‘GENESIS: A NEW GOLDEN WORLD OF INDIVIDUALISM’. Unlike the previous suffocating world of Collectivism, this new world of individualism arises in the air on its own power, no longer requiring Atlas (representing the leaders of society) to struggle with the weight of the world on his shoulders.” “I only hope you enjoy this sculpture half as much as I enjoyed creating it.” Richard L. Minns
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