ILARIA ARPINO

2017

Bronze | Traditional Patina

46”H x 5½”W x 3”D | 116cmH x 14cmW x 7.6cmD

This bronze sculpture is inspired by Laura, a strong woman I met when I was living in Italy. She is standing proud, one foot forward, without fear, only concerned about being herself. Her skirt is stretched as her right foot stretches outward. This simple yet strong female posture is symbolic of the message of this sculpture - that being a woman means loving yourself when the rest of society says you're too big or too skinny or too dark or too tall or too short or too much or too little... It means defining your own strength, instead of adhering to a set of standards society has decided women must follow in order to be considered strong.