True Greatness

Living greatness lies outside of yardsticks like possession and power, which fascinate us all. In life, we oscillate between great and small, power and powerlessness. Sometimes we get stuck on one side.

«Populist» emerged out of my personal struggle with managing my aggression. Its genesis combines current events and personal experience.

A picture that touches me deeply
In late 2016, an assassin shot the Russian ambassador in front of cameras at an art opening in Ankara. The picture was named World Press Photo of 2017. Naked aggression dressed up in a suit, the corpse reinforcing the horror.

What does this image touch deep inside of me? How do I deal with my own anger and avoid aggression? I ripped the picture out of the paper and carried it around with me.

The first step: full power
After a few days, a new picture emerges: «Full power» combines the fist with a teddy bear instead of the pistol. Models like this give my inner picture a physical form.

Donald barges in
In a large-scale version, it is clear that the figure must remain male. As I work my way down from the top of the large oak trunk (video: the making of), I look into the face of the man who is just beginning to dominate the headlines. A key moment: something emerges that I had not intended. What now?

I decide to stick with it. At this moment, Donald Trump occupies so much space inside of me. He had to «get out».

The populist within
My sculpture does not judge: «Populist» combines gentleness and aggression. This combination doesn’t just happen; it is wisdom that life tries to teach us. Following this inner integration requires awareness and a willingness to grow personally. Acting with moderation requires awareness and the use of our full mental and physical faculties.

Greatness waits
When we are under stress, we act unconsciously and fall back on old strategies and patterns. I can change this by going deeper into my emotions, thoughts and actions surrounding difficult situations. For this, I need to feel safe to fully look at these deep inner struggles.

My «Populist» had its first appearance at the Triennale of Sculpture in Bad Ragaz in 2018. Now he resides in a private park in London.

Zürich/Bülach/Bad Ragaz, August 2018