「Art Appreciation Through Visual Reading」Giacometti: Existential Truth Within Stick Figures

These varied, so‑called “stick figure” sculptures have fetched record auction prices exceeding one hundred million?

Alberto Giacometti’s sculptures freeze the fundamental condition of modern humanity. Stripped of all superficial identity and ornament, they embody humanity’s solitude, fragility and quiet stubbornness when confronting nothingness.

I first encountered the original work “The Nose” at the 2018 two‑person exhibition of Giacometti and Francis Bacon held by the Beyeler Foundation. A suspended head is confined within a metal frame; its drastically elongated nasal contour pierces the surrounding space. Devoid of extraneous anatomical detail, it carries sharper tension than any realist work. Created in the post‑war era, this piece materialises collective human psychological trauma, capturing inescapable vulnerability amid an absurd condition of existence. It represents the ultimate realisation of his creative conviction that the head bears the core of the spirit. It also resonates with the distorted portraits painted by Bacon, as both artists probe the question of human essence.

Giacometti devoted his entire life to capturing perceived reality. He created neither heroic figures nor idealised bodies, only ordinary human beings who walk and simply exist. His gaunt, emaciated figures seem on the verge of being swallowed by surrounding space, yet remain firmly upright. This aligns with the existentialist tenet that “existence precedes essence”: human meaning is not predetermined, but forged by individuals through standing firm and moving forward.

Eight years later, the major retrospective “Alberto Giacometti: A Life of Creation” opens in Shanghai. These lonely contours preserved in bronze act as a mirror for every living being. As we gaze at his lean figures, we recognise individual insignificance yet uncover the truth of existence: life holds no preordained value. Every unyielding step forward embodies profound vital resilience.

That’s all for today’s art – appreciation session. Next time, we’ll make a new pot of tea and continue exploring the world of art together.

By Mr.Shan