Lioness (1993 – )

Gesamtkunstwerk

since 1993, sculpture group “Herakles on the lioness”, aprox. 200x70x180cm, unfinished

What was intended in 1993 as a popular reaction to the epoch-making sculpture group “Ariadne on the Panther”, which was begun by Johann Heinrich Dannecker in 1803 without a commission, and was conversely intended to become “Heracles on the Lioness”, expanded into one that never ends in life Process of the “Lioness Work”, which, looking back 40,000 years, about the “Lion Man” from the Lone Valley over decades that have now passed and decades, on the one hand, can be described as experimental archeology, made countless prehistoric devices, as functional sculptures in the overall oeuvre of the “Lioness Work” is to be understood as a socio-cultural-historical sculpture.

These include: drawings, spears, javelins and slingshots, ceramics, cooking utensils, clothing, etc. As well as children who have grown up and adults who have grown old.

The sculptural group “Heracles on the Lioness remains” unfinished to this day.

In relation to Greek mythology, Matthias Kunisch explores various aspects of male and female dominance in the work complex “Lioness”. He replaces the mythological figure of the invincible Nemese lion with a female lioness figure who engages the figures within the picture associated with her in tireless battles.

Heracles fell out of favor with the goddess Hera, whereupon she sent him mad. Heracles, driven mad, threw his 12 children into the fire. In order to free himself from his guilt, he was condemned to serve King Eurystheus for 12 years, who gave him 12 tasks. Heracles was supposed to bring the king, among other things, the skin of the Nemese lion. Since his arrows ricocheted off the invulnerable animal, he hit the monster over the skull with his huge club made of olive tree wood when it jumped at him. The lion took refuge in a crevice in Mount Tretos. After Heracles closed one exit of the gap, he grabbed the lion as it emerged from the other end and strangled him to death. He fought the lion with his own claws, because only these were able to cut the animal’s skin. He later made a cloak out of the fur, which made him almost invulnerable.