“Head” by Augusto Perez, created in 1970, belongs to a mature phase of the sculptor’s research, marked by an intense reflection on the human figure and its existential condition. Born in Messina and artistically trained in Naples, Perez occupies a significant place in twentieth-century Italian sculpture, developing a figurative language far removed from simple naturalism.
In this work, the subject is reduced to its essentials: a bronze head, set upon an elongated neck and a barely indicated base. However, this formal simplification does not diminish the expressive strength of the image. The face, enclosed within a contemplative pose, displays firm and severe features, while the lowered eyes and closed mouth suggest a suspended, almost meditative inner dimension.
Furthermore, the bronze surface alternates smoother areas with more textured passages, particularly in the treatment of the hair. This contrast creates a dialogue between sculptural control and emotional tension, a central element of Perez’s artistic language. The figure does not appear as a descriptive portrait, but rather as an archetypal presence, constructed through compact volumes and expressive silence.
Within the context of the 1970s, “Head” therefore demonstrates the artist’s ability to engage with the tradition of figurative sculpture while renewing it from within. The work retains a strong sculptural presence, yet at the same time reveals a restrained fragility, characteristic of Perez’s exploration of humanity, the body, and memory.
Description: Bronze sculpture, bearing on the reverse the artist’s signature and edition number 3/3, with a label inside from Galleria Mutina, Modena, inventory number 2127. H cm 50x20x28.
Hammer Price: € 3.000,00
Auction 76 – November 14th 2024 – Contemporary Art
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