Adam – The Mechanics of Origin
Limited Edition Sculpture by Marie Smith
Created from life, this sculpture portrays Adam, a blind man working as an artist’s model. He lives in Amsterdam and is aided by his guide dog, Pika. The duality of the work – half traditional portrait, half écorché – reveals both the outer likeness and the intricate muscular structure beneath the skin, the mechanics that sustain life.
Reminded of Adam – the biblical first man and how he represents origin: the first body, the first breath, the first awakening. In this contemporary reimagining, that origin is explored not symbolically alone, but anatomically, revealing the moment between formation and completion.
The exposed musculature recalls classical anatomical traditions, while the portrait side holds the quiet presence of a man who will never see his own portrait. This adds a gentle poignancy to the work and invites us to reflect on what it really means to “see” someone.
Details:
- Medium: Jesmonite
- Edition: Limited edition of 3
- Size: Life-size, 50 x 17 x 24 cm
- Presentation: Mounted on hardwood base
- Exhibition: Selected for the Royal Ulster Academy 144th Annual Exhibition
- Also available in bronze, please contact Marie Smith for more information
