Bronze and Spinach-Green Nephrite
Contemporary Art
Height 12 inches
This bronze and jade sculpture takes its subject matter from the Greek mythological character of Sisyphus, a tragic character condemned to the eternal task of rolling a boulder up a hill only to watch it return to the bottom. Sisyphus, king of Corinth, was a cruel and murderous ruler who betrayed the gods and was banished to the underworld. Sisyphus deceitfully escaped, but was eventually captured by Hermes and returned to the dark realm. Zeus determined that Sisyphus’ punishment for believing his cleverness surpassed that of the gods was an eternity of frustration.
The present example by artist Don Wobber is a depiction in bronze of Sisyphus kneeling with his arm raised, precariously balancing a jade boulder over his head. The artist has selected a beautiful piece of bright spinach-green California jade, which is highly polished and highlighted with white striations throughout. Sisyphus’ figure is in the style of realistic classical nude, the surface of his skin portrayed in this piece; his arms and back muscles appear to strain under the weight of the boulder, successfully depicting his ceaseless toil. In our opinion, the unique design and quality workmanship make this contemporary sculpture an outstanding example of modern jade and bronze art by artist Don Wobber.
Don Wobber has been a diver and sculptor of jade for the past 50 years. He has often been called ‘unique’ because of his quest for sculpture material leads him to descend 180-foot cliffs before entering the ocean depths in search of elusive jade stones. Mr. Wobber is the author of Jade Beneath the Sea- A Diving Adventure. He has also produced three short subject films about his art and exploration for jade on the Big Sur Coast of Northern California. These include The Touchstone, Jade Sculptor and The Jade Cave.
Reference Number 3820
Price Available Upon Request
To inquire about this work of art, contact us at 415.299.1600 or email at sbernsteinjade@aol.com