I had the idea in 2002, started creating it, left it for some years, then finished it 2005. Rather neutral tones with some colour touches: brown, gold, black, some white and light purple, creme, light yellow, a couple of green touches and a little bit of color work up in the top right corner. The wheat texture is more concentrated on the woman’s breasts, the man’s face and the woman’s belly, to put the accent on the moment of the kiss and on erotism. His chest and her torso are well defined with shadows. The man’s body is mixed with dead leaves and wrapped paper textures, to give it a “rigid” aspect. On the top right corner, I put an intense light, to symbolize strong feelings that make all thoughts “vanish” during the erotic act.

My “Eternal Idol” variations play with the notion of eternal versus the notion of seasonal. They address the conflicting relationship between the notion of sculpture as permanent and tangible and the seasonal lanscape as a symbol of perpetual change. The “eternal” idol is thus transformed into a living, changing object while the “seasonal” landscape is petrified into an unchangeable eternity. Wheat fields in summer, rapeseed fields in spring, dead leaves in autumn, icy lakes in winter – those elements transform Rodin’s Eternal Idol into a chameleon, an Idol in Eternal Change.

As commissioned by a client, I am now trying to create a horizontal wheat variation. I came up with the following four variations, but I am having difficulties choosing only one (as “official” version…). In order of creation:

This one has more yellow tones, more intense colours than the vertical version. It’s 12×16in / 30×40cm.

This one is intense yellow and warm brown, with more contrast and more defined edges. 12×16in / 30×40cm.

I think this one is my favorite. The tones are more neutral, there is a wraped paper work in the woman’s genitalia part, some blue-green touches, warm tones. It is almost square (40×45cm / 16×18in) and the man’s chest is complete.

This one is pretty similar to no3, same dimensions, with a bit of colour work up in the top right corner.

I appreciate any comments and feedback!

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