THE PROPHET
The Gibran Sculpture Series
Fine Art bronze 20 x 18 x 10cm (h x w x d)
Fine Art bronze 20 x 18 x 10cm
(h x w x d)
This fine art bronze sculpture is life size. I’m holding a copy of one of the most famous books ever published and it really is my hand!
I first read The Prophet in the early 1970’s and I have been inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s words, ever since.
The Prophet at my wedding
The first poem in the book is about love. The second poem, about marriage, was read at my wedding by the famous Gibran scholar, Professor Suheil Bushrui. I first met Suheil in Beirut, at The AUB (The American University of Beirut) in the early 1970’s. He recited the poem, during the service, first in English, and then a second time in Arabic. Afterwards, people talked about his rendition at the reception, as a highlight of the wedding service.
The Prophet in London
This sculpture was first displayed at the London inaugural dinner of The Anglo Lebanese Association. I was a founder member of the Association and Suheil encouraged me to display both this sculpture, and other Gibran Series’ sculptures there. So, a different Gibran Sculpture was displayed as a centre piece on every table at the dinner. The dinner itself was held in 1982, in Whitehall.
The Making of the Sculpture
A mould was made of my own hand. We used alginate material. Dentists use it to take impressions of patients mouths. It seemed so strange to be mixing my professional Dental Surgeon’s career with that of my sculpting life!
Then I bought special sculptors’ wax from the art materials suppliers, Tiranti, in Warren Street, in London. I melted it and then poured it into the impression to produce a perfect copy of my hand, but in wax. The next step was to gently prise open the fingers, so that they would hold a precious copy of The Prophet.
This wax sculpture was used to cast the bronze. I took it to the famous Burleighfield foundry in Beaconsfield, near London. They cast the bronze itself, using the lost wax process.
The Making of the Sculpture
A mould was made of my own hand. We used alginate material. Dentists use it to take impressions of patients mouths. It seemed so strange to be mixing my professional Dental Surgeon’s career with that of my sculpting life!
Then I bought special sculptors’ wax from the art materials suppliers, Tiranti, in Warren Street, in London. I melted it and then poured it into the impression to produce a perfect copy of my hand, but in wax.
The next step was to gently prise open the fingers, so that they would hold a precious copy of The Prophet.
This wax sculpture was used to cast the bronze. I took it to the famous Burleighfield foundry in Beaconsfield, near London. They cast the bronze itself, using the lost wax process.
The Book itself
I find Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet inspirational, to say the very least.
The final line of the poem about marriage, explains that space should exist in a healthy, happy marriage.
“And the oak and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow”.
To me, the intensity of Gibran’s words rings so true. He describes how the stability of a happy home is essential for successfully sending ones’ children into the wider world…
“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The Archer sees the mark upon the infinite and bends you with his might, that his arrows may go swift and far. For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so he loves the bow that is stable”.
Hopefully, my hand holding The Prophet can send a message to the world.
Anyone can own and enjoy this amazing book. They can also own this bronze sculpture and display it on their desk, or at home, as a constant reminder of Gibran’s words. The Prophet is such a wonderful book, with incredibly powerful messages.
The Book itself
I find Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet inspirational, to say the very least.
The final line of the poem about marriage, explains that space should exist in a healthy, happy marriage.
“And the oak and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow”.
To me, the intensity of Gibran’s words rings so true. He describes how the stability of a happy home is essential for successfully sending ones’ children into the wider world…
“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The Archer sees the mark upon the infinite and bends you with his might, that his arrows may go swift and far. For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so he loves the bow that is stable”.
Hopefully, my hand holding The Prophet can send a message
to the world.
Anyone can own and enjoy this amazing book. They can also own this bronze sculpture and display it on their desk, or at home, as a constant reminder of Gibran’s words. The Prophet is such a wonderful book, with incredibly powerful messages.