One of the least explainable phenomena and the most exciting way to journey into the psychic of a genius, art is at the same time a perfect way to capture reality and visualize the rights and wrongs of a modern society. Likewise, art evokes hope and the desire to change things in the pursuit of the ultimate happiness.
Though such artworks as the B of the Bang and the Angel of the Night might seem miles away from each other, there is actually a common thread with them. With their huge scale and bizarre look, they shock the audience into thinking about the mystery of success and its role in the life of a person, as well as the reasons that make people strive for it.
Because of the collision of the fantastic structure and the simplicity of the message, the sculptures seem to have become the symbol of the life in XXI century, challenging and at the same time tending to leap back to the traditional family values.
It must be admitted, though, that the two sculptures are miles away from each other in terms of the things that aspired them and the means of expression. While the B of the Bang seems more exotic and out of the ordinary read-the-way-you-want-it message, the Angel of the Night is provocative only in the choice of the color cast and the fact that it looks like a cross between a monoplane and a swimmer who is about to dive.
Despite the fact that the latter also has a very unusual and provocative look, it still conveys the traditional idea of a guarding angel that will protect the world from the evil. The posture and the dramatic pose, with his wings spread, convey the message rather efficiently. Therefore, when considering the symbolism of the sculpture in depth, one will see that there is very little challenge in it.
When it comes to discussing the B of the Bang, however, the form seems to clash with the message. It is clear that the author tried to incorporate the concept of beginning, the “Big Bang,” the speed of a lightning bolt and the following success.
When knowing the idea behind the sculpture, one will perceive this message successfully; however, without the background information, the audience can read literally anything into the spiky construction that looks rather threateningly. The given conflict between the idea and the form makes the work ore controversial, yet at the same time more interesting.
Finally, it is reasonable to add that interpreting artworks must be the least gratifying efforts ever, mostly because they have been created as a reaction towards the objective reality and are, in fact, the author’s vision of reality. Hence the dilemma concerning the analysis of artworks comes.
There are schools claiming that the analysis of the author’s intent is the only possible way to understand the true meaning of art; others say that once the work is shown to the public, it becomes a thing in itself, which everyone is free to interpret in his/her own way. However, the difference in opinions on a certain artwork only adds to its charm and makes it compelling, which the Angel of the Night and the B of the Bang are graphic examples of.