Olympic spirit
Tribute to Hercules
2004 Bronze 600cm

In the Greek world the Olympic Games represented an extremely important event. Every four years the best of Greek youth would get together at Olympia, an ancient, sacred city to compete in various disciplines. Even wars were suspended so that the games could go ahead. Indeed the timetable for the games dictated the order of other events, so much so that history itself has blended into myth. Hercules, fulfilling his father Zeus’ wish, set up the first games. Who better than the most popular hero of classical mythology, with his legendary twelve labours, to embody the spirit of the games? Who better than the man who has always been considered the symbol of moral strength, who victoriously fought against the never ending problems of life and against all types of injustice and violence? In Olympia the competition was spurred on by ideals so no other prize than a simple crown made of intertwined, sacred olive branches.

Compete to keep alive the purity of victory. This is the Olympic Spirit which Anna Chromy turns to again for inspiration in this piece, although the race depicted here is of modern man at a time in his development when he is at his most dynamic yet most uncertain. As happens in the challenge passed down from generation to generation which allows for knowledge to be acquired and progress to be made, so precariousness and enthusiasm allows for growth. These athletes/acrobats/dancers are symbols of people who achieve glory in every field and as they climb on top of each other defying height and emptiness, their harmonious bodies measure the space which they are moving into, as though they were dancing. They climb ever higher forming a melodious spiral. By coiling their bodies together they present a symmetrical pattern reminiscent of our most important structure, DNA, the same structure that allows us to live and pass on the information so vital in our battle to exist and develop in the mystery of the universe.