Genesis 2:7-8 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And...
Genesis 2:7-8 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward of Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”
Gib Singleton’s Adam and Eve renditions in sculpture are unusual and penetrating. This is a psycho-drama that Singleton has created in bronze. The Eve is based upon an earlier Eve he made in the 1980’s and the Adam is a new addition to complete the story. Singleton’s figures are foreign and feel like aliens have landed on earth from another planet. The narrative of Adam and Eve can seem remote for our culture and existence today, but this is a drama that is played out daily. Adam portrays a character with longing and passionate desire for the forbidden. Eve takes on the role of the temptress that lures and traps her prey. Both figures are naked and have purity about their stance in which they care not who sees them and what is thought of their nakedness. Instead their identity and self-awareness is wrapped into the object of desire; the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, something forbidden by God. Each figure is carefully posed by Singleton. Both figures are placed to move forward, and Eve looking ahead and Adam has turned his head, craving and yearning. Eve holds the object of passion behind her in both hands while Adam’s hands shield his privates as if to foreshadow the same they will experience once he partakes. One bite will change everything.
“This sculpture is about temptation. To take a bite of the apple to become as smart as God. To have the power of life and death. The power of good and evil. Everybody wants power. That’s the human game- power and knowledge. It’s a constant thing in people, which is a shame. You can work your entire life for a penny, and when you die, you can’t take that penny to heaven with you.” -Gib Singleton