Duane Hanson, Executive, originally titled, Another Day

Summary

In this insightful exploration of Duane Hanson's sculpture *Executive*, the video delves into the hyperrealistic portrayal of an exhausted businessman from the 1970s. The artwork captures a sense of weariness and societal disillusionment, reflecting the cultural shifts of the era. With intricate details of the figure's skin, posture, and attire, Hanson evokes a profound narrative of midlife fatigue and the pressures of professional life. Set against the backdrop of historical upheavals, *Executive* becomes a symbol of the challenges faced by individuals during a transformative time in American history.

Takeaways

• 😀 Duane Hanson's sculpture 'Executive' captures the essence of a 1970s business executive in a realistic and lifelike manner.
• 😀 The sculpture depicts an exhausted man, possibly worn down by both his professional life and personal struggles.
• 😀 The details of the sculpture, such as the worn attache case and the man's tired posture, reflect the stress and weariness of the 1970s middle class.
• 😀 The color and style of the clothing in the sculpture, particularly the tie, are indicative of the 1970s fashion.
• 😀 The artist, Duane Hanson, used fiberglass and resin to create a highly realistic texture that resembles human skin.
• 😀 The sculpture symbolizes the universal experience of fatigue and disillusionment in midlife, specifically in the context of the 1970s.
• 😀 The 1970s was a period of social upheaval, with widespread disillusionment following the counterculture movement and Vietnam War protests.
• 😀 The 'Executive' sculpture is a commentary on the decline of the idealized white middle-class family and the growing doubts about the stability of traditional American life.
• 😀 The sculpture is a single figure, representing the shift in Hanson's career from group narratives to capturing individual stories in his artwork.
• 😀 The 'Executive' was a commissioned work for a New York office building lobby, emphasizing the contrast between art and everyday office life.
• 😀 The realism of the sculpture leads viewers to momentarily question whether the figure is a real person, enhancing the impact of the work.

Q & A

What is the title of the sculpture discussed in the transcript?

The sculpture is titled 'Executive' and was created by Duane Hanson in 1971.

What is significant about the tie worn by the sculpture's figure?

The tie's color and style, particularly the brown and yellow combination, scream of the 1970s, capturing the essence of that era.

How does the sculpture convey a sense of exhaustion?

The figure's posture, the worn clothing, and the tired expression on his face, along with the nicks on his attache case, all convey a sense of exhaustion, both from the day and possibly from life itself.

How does Duane Hanson achieve such a realistic portrayal of the figure?

Hanson achieves this remarkable realism by casting from life and using delicate painting techniques on fiberglass and resin to make the figure's skin and hands look almost lifelike.

What societal moment is the sculpture reflecting?

The sculpture reflects a moment in history where people, particularly in the 1970s, were disillusioned with the traditional middle-class life and the corporate world, influenced by the social and political upheaval of the time.

What does the sculpture reveal about the middle-class man's experience in the 1970s?

The sculpture captures the tiredness and sense of disillusionment of the middle-class man in the 1970s, especially following the questioning of traditional values during the 1960s.

How does the sculpture relate to broader historical events?

The sculpture encapsulates the social climate of the early 1970s, a time marked by protests against the Vietnam War, the feminist movement, rising divorce rates, and a general sense of instability.

How does the artist Duane Hanson use individual figures to tell a story?

Earlier in his career, Hanson created group narrative sculptures, but by the time he made 'Executive,' he realized that a single figure could encapsulate the story of the time and the individual, representing broader social themes.

Was 'Executive' a commissioned work, and if so, by whom?

Yes, 'Executive' was a commissioned sculpture, created for Melvin Kaufman, a businessman from New York. It was intended to be displayed in the lobby of a major office building in New York City.

How might people have reacted to seeing the sculpture in its original setting?

In its original setting, people might have initially mistook the sculpture for a real person, leading to a sense of unease or surprise when they realized the figure was not alive, offering a stark contrast to the busy environment of an office building.