| Once cured of years
of migraines, Ringsby was surprised to discover that he had invested his
own identity into that condition. He subconsciously thought of himself as
a victim who deserved his suffering. Thus, he felt that if he did not spiritually
restructure himself he would lapse right back into the familiarity of his
previous condition and of self-victimization. Ringsby resolved to make a
monumental sculpture of his new spiritual core in steel. He felt that in
designing and constructing it perhaps he could force into spiritual reality.
The form primarily derives from Ringsby's advanced biological studies in
the evolutionary morphology of vertebrates. The Dragon, (New Spiritual
Core in Steel), 1990 is the synthesis of a primitive evolving vertebrate,
a cornucopia, and Beethoven's ear piece. The thin steel sheath forms The
Dragon's protective skin/scales/armor. Concentric cones define its body
with tail/root/anchor firmly planted in the Earth. The head is broadly expanded
and symbolically roaring. The title refers to the ineffable darkness we
must overcome in order to live in peace and the internal strength, or character
development, it takes to accomplish the task. |
