Item Details:

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST                                                             

THE EVERCLEVER ART COLLECTIVE

CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE, 2019

Chamberstick Tapered Candle Stick Holder and Cosmetic Finger Prosthesis

Size: 3.25 x 5.0 in; 8.3 x 12.7 cm 

Signed on underside

Inspired by the symbolism in Leonardo's last painting "Saint John the Baptist", depicting the saint on a dark landscape background pointing skyward to heaven, the present work collapses both the vertical index finger gesture and the lght/dark dichotomy, by reference, into a single assisted readymade object.

Da Vinci has encapsulated the human need for verticality in his depiction of Saint John.  On the surface, da Vinci most likely used the upward gesture to symbolize the Christian ideas of Heaven and the salvation of sinners here on Earth. There is a deeper meaning behind this gesture, however. The simple act of pointing up toward the sky draws our attention to the space above our heads, and reminds us of our innate need to escape the surface of the Earth. In addition, the contrast of light and dark are metaphors for good and evil, as well as the righteous and the wicked. Saint John is rendered as a beacon of light in a landscape of darkness, much like the light of the heavens he gestures towards.

Gesturing towards the sky can still be seen today, and it’s usually to acknowledge a higher power in some way. Sports figures often point upwards when entering play or after scoring. When someone narrowly escapes death or injury, a point upwards acknowledges there’s someone up there looking out for us. Jewish men wear yarmulkes to remind them of a divine presence above their heads. Each of these gestures, among many others, are a way of acknowledging that there’s something up there, and it’s greater than those of us that are down here.