Marc Licari
We are constantly dealing with stress. Work, school, family, people you don’t know, the economy, you name it… they all have something wonderful in common (maybe not so wonderful after you think about it), but they can make us incredibly nervous at time. Mark Licari has found a humorous way of portraying our hectic nature, and they’re sculptures titled “Nervous Men”.
At first I found these sculptures to be incredibly creepy. I know I have just recently featured a creepier post, but it’s just that it took me a while to figure this one out. Then, I decided to do what I do best and just let the sculptures be, without trying so hard to understand them. Well, they happened to be amazingly simpler than I thought. The concept is easy: these life-size creations are made mostly of telephone wire, and they are motorized so that they’re able to shake nervously.
According to Licari on an interview, he said that all his sculptures are based on a drawing, but there are a lot of trials and errors involved in bringing these pieces to life. I find it funny how they’re all dressed in a suit, and interestingly enough none are wearing the typical casual attire native to their creator’s environment. Mark Licari resides in L.A., and the choice for the attire could simply be a representation of the hectic life business men (and women) tend to have to the point they forget to have fun. Cities by the ocean usually have the two end of the spectrum in them: the laidback people, and the super busy. From experience (I used to live in Miami Beach), I know I was part of the busy crowd that didn’t have time to enjoy the ocean. If it was possible for me to shake like a sculpture made of wire, I probably would have. Of course, the wonderful thing about art is the endless possibility it offers for interpretation, and so… these nervous men could be simply shaking trying to call people’s attention to take their horrendous suits off.
“Nervous Men” were most recently on display at the “Monterey Museum of Art” in Monterey, California until February 16th. From running late to a meeting, losing money on the stock market, trying to sell a condo in Malibu, wherever the reason why these men are so nervous, I am certain that we have all been there once.
