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Emotionally Charged Scrap Metal Sculpture


This massive figurative installation by mixed media artist Karen Cuolito stands a staggering 30 feet high. The California-based sculptor's towering figure of a woman titled Ecstasy is made of 9 tons of salvaged steel. The sculpture depicts an emotive woman who has slung her head back in a state of euphoria. She is meant to embody passion, with her tilted head and emotional stance.

The construction of the piece is remarkably concise. The figure is tightly wound and sculpted to form the proper silhouette of the expressive female form, utilizing random bits of metal and chains to represent the firm and flowy texture of skin and hair. As abstract as its constructing components may appear, there is a defined appearance of the human shape, as well as the internal workings of the body. When looked upon closely, there is a recognizable rib cage, a central spinal chord, and even the illusion of muscles behind the skin-like surface of the embellished and looped steel.






Photo credit: Thomas Hawk
Karen Cusolito website
via [black tangled heart]

Pinar

Pinar Noorata (she/her) is the Editorial Director at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. She also runs her own art & culture newsletter called The High Low. She first joined the My Modern Met team in 2011 as a Contributing Writer, pitching and publishing articles about a wide range of topics. Her expertise in visual media lends itself to in-depth analysis of varied art forms, including but not limited to painting, illustration, sculpture, installation, design, and photography. Pinar has a particular affinity for spotlighting up-and-coming artists, affording them a platform and offering a voice to lesser-heard individuals looking to break through, especially BIPOC creatives. She has helped multiple artists make a name for themselves and reach a wider audience over 10+ years as a writer and editor (both through long-form articles and short-form videos). When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching films and TV, reading, crafting, drawing, frequenting museums and galleries, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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