La Mante

The humanized insect, which waits in a praying posture to devour its prey alive, is a disturbing image. Its angular lines and pointed claws enhance the aggressive effect. 

At the same time, there is also vulnerability in this sculpture. The pose is that of an insect in an attack position, a stance she assumes when threatened.

This creature is a literal fusion of human and insect. Not a transformation from one to another, but an uneasy yet impressive in-between state. The fusion of human and insect depicts an existential nightmare: the threat does not come from outside; it is humans themselves who are cruel.

Germaine Richier was a French sculptor and graphic artist. Until 1939, she made realistic portraits and female nudes. During and after the war, her artistic world became populated with the most fantastic creatures. Richier’s figures can still be recognized as people, but their humanity is fragile and complex. The rough, scratched, gnawed surfaces of her sculptures testify to the existential angst and dilemmas resulting from WWII.