Famous artist donates all proceeds from sculpture to Japan

Famous artist donates all proceeds from 24 carat sculpture to Japan

London, 17 March 2011 - World famous artist creates an 8 kilo gold rabbit in honour of the Chinese Year of Rabbit to raise money for disaster stricken Japanese people. Sophie Ryder, one of Britain’s leading sculptors, today announced that she is producing an exclusive sculpture to celebrate the unique ‘Year of the Metal Rabbit’ that arrives once every 60 years. The 24 carat sculpture weighing 8 kilos will be limited to an edition of 8.

The Chinese term ‘Mao’ is not a fluffy bunny but it is the hare or jackrabbit, a solitary and mythical animal with big feet and powerful legs that can kill a fox with one kick.Sophie Ryder’s art theme for the past 20 years has been dominated by the Hare. She developed a human animal hybrid that was invented by the artist as a counterpart to the Minotaur, the ‘bull man’ of ancient Greece as popularised by Pablo Picasso.

It is the Lady Hare and her tranquil tenderness, strength and sexuality that Sophie merges into the figure and connects to the Year of the Rabbit. Ryder’s Lady Hare is recognised around the world as a mythical and mysterious creature that evokes the viewer’s identification or wonder by adults and children alike. The Gold Lady Hare is Sophie Ryder’s first sculpture using pure gold.

8 is the lucky number In Chinese culture, the number 8 has an auspicious connotation and is considered to be lucky. Sophie Ryder comments: “I thought it is important to add more luck to the piece than already is connected to the Year of the Rabbit after 2010 events.” In China, it is considered auspicious to be born in a Rabbit year, as this is the sign of longevity. Kindness, sensitivity, good counsel and gracefulness are the Rabbit’s positive traits. The artist chose pure gold after consulting several experts who advised that any other carat would be lowly ‘alloys.’ But Sophie Ryder is also attracted to the softness of the metal and purity of 24 carat gold. Additionally, that 24 is divisible by 8 only adds to the luck of the object.

West meets Eastern symbolism

A nocturnal animal, the hare is widely associated with the phases of the moon, also with lust and fertility. This association is true in both western and Chinese beliefs. But the Chinese associates a wider range of qualities and attitudes to the Year of the Rabbit. In this Rabbit Year, we have to bear in mind good manners and civility, and watch out for emotions that could bring poor decisions. If we are to thrive in a Rabbit Year, it has to be in its terms to do the right thing, graciously, while being thankful, and discounting all negative thought. And most of all, deliberately hurting others to get your own way is not rewarded. Use tact, tenderness and kindness instead.

This attitude and quality is something that Sophie Ryder lives by personally and embodies in her sculpture and its pose. In 2011, you attract more bees with honey than with vinegar. The year of the Lady Hare promises to bring some much needed peace and tranquillity to the animal’s humanity. A fascinating aspect of Sophie Ryder's sculpture is her concern with hybrids; not only the Minotaur, but hares combined with human features.

The Lady Hare has occupied her imagination for many years and the human parts are based on the artist's own body. The sculpture has the potential to forge powerful images charged with character and emotion that transcends representation. Adding humanity to the animal is a central part of the artist’s work.

Sophie Ryder explains: "I sculpt characters and beings - the dogs, the hares, the Minotaurs - are all characters beyond animal form. I am not interested in making a replica. If you would put a real hare next to one of mine you would see great differences!"

Exclusive private views only

The 24 carat sculpture is an exclusive object that is only expected to be seen by the elite few in the company of its owner. The artist decided against showing the sculpture at galleries and museums around the world for security reasons.

The pure gold sculpture’s measurements are 30 x 24 x 18 cm or 11.8 x 9.5 x 7.1 inches. The price of the sculpture is in excess of $1 million depending on the gold price when cast.

100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross’s Japanese Relief Fund.

ENDS

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