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Sam Shendi — Souls
Sam Shendi

Souls

2014

Sam Shendi's *Souls* (2014) is a commanding abstract sculpture that captivates with its distinctive form and vibrant coloration. The artwork manifests as a tall, rectilinear column, its entire surface meticulously rendered with an intricate arrangement of faceted and seemingly crumpled planes. A lustrous, deep mustard-yellow coating unifies these complex textures, enhancing the interplay of light and shadow across its dynamic topography. This rich, uniform hue imbues the piece with both a contemporary aesthetic and a timeless resonance. Resting on a minimalist white plinth, the sculpture asserts a strong physical presence, yet its interaction with ambient light creates ephemeral, dramatic shadows across the background. Particularly striking is the shadow cast on the right wall, which distinctly evokes the profile of a human face, lending an unexpected figurative dimension to the otherwise abstract composition. The evocative title, *Souls*, invites profound contemplation, positioning the sculpture as a material representation of inner landscapes or collective human spirit. The segmented, almost fractured appearance of the surface can be interpreted as a metaphor for the complex, multifaceted nature of identity, memory, and emotion. Despite its robust construction from stone, metal, and steel, materials celebrated for their strength and permanence, the sculpture's exterior appears fluid and malleable, as if a solid core has been intricately wrapped or folded. This masterful transformation of durable elements into a seemingly pliable, expressive skin is a hallmark of Shendi's artistic vision, where he consistently distills the complexities of human experience into compelling geometric and abstracted forms. The powerful contrast between the sculpture's tangible weight and the transient, human-like shadow it projects further underscores themes of presence and absence, the physical and the spiritual, inviting viewers to delve into their own perceptions of being.

Medium
Stone, Metal, Steel
Dimensions

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About this work

Sam Shendi, Souls, 2014

Sam Shendi's *Souls* (2014) is a commanding abstract sculpture that captivates with its distinctive form and vibrant coloration. The artwork manifests as a tall, rectilinear column, its entire surface meticulously rendered with an intricate arrangement of faceted and seemingly crumpled planes. A lustrous, deep mustard-yellow coating unifies these complex textures, enhancing the interplay of light and shadow across its dynamic topography. This rich, uniform hue imbues the piece with both a contemporary aesthetic and a timeless resonance. Resting on a minimalist white plinth, the sculpture asserts a strong physical presence, yet its interaction with ambient light creates ephemeral, dramatic shadows across the background. Particularly striking is the shadow cast on the right wall, which distinctly evokes the profile of a human face, lending an unexpected figurative dimension to the otherwise abstract composition. The evocative title, *Souls*, invites profound contemplation, positioning the sculpture as a material representation of inner landscapes or collective human spirit. The segmented, almost fractured appearance of the surface can be interpreted as a metaphor for the complex, multifaceted nature of identity, memory, and emotion. Despite its robust construction from stone, metal, and steel, materials celebrated for their strength and permanence, the sculpture's exterior appears fluid and malleable, as if a solid core has been intricately wrapped or folded. This masterful transformation of durable elements into a seemingly pliable, expressive skin is a hallmark of Shendi's artistic vision, where he consistently distills the complexities of human experience into compelling geometric and abstracted forms. The powerful contrast between the sculpture's tangible weight and the transient, human-like shadow it projects further underscores themes of presence and absence, the physical and the spiritual, inviting viewers to delve into their own perceptions of being.

Medium
Stone, Metal, Steel
Dimensions
50 x 29 x 12 cm
Year
2014
Seen at
Saatchi Art

Related themes

Steel, Stone And Metal, Geometric Column, Cubism, Dada, Mustard Yellow, Metal, Three Dimensional Art, Sculpture, Minimalist Plinth, Inner Landscape, Figurative Shadow, Modernism, Stone, Abstract Sculpture, Mixed Materials, Collective Spirit, Rectilinear Form, Abstract, Human Identity, Faceted Surface, Minimalism

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Collected by

Joshua Cohen, Brian Stoogens, Steve Trudeau