Sculpture: Ulysses

I recently took a trip to Los Angeles. One of the goals of this trip was to absorb as much art as possible. So, with the aid of some great tour guides, I went out in search of public art. My friends live close to Bunker Hill in Downtown L.A. So, of course, this post (and others to follow) are from this area.


This is another Alexander Liberman. Thanks to having seen his Olympic Illiad at the Seattle Center, I knew when I saw this piece from a distance, that it was a Liberman. This one's called "Ulysses". Is it named after the Ulysses (Latin name of) the legendary Greek King (Odysseus in Greek)? He's the king who wandered around for 10 years after the Trojan War. I'll have to read more about him, but according to Wikipedia his name could mean "The one who is wrathful/hateful". Interesting.

Or is it named after James Joyce's novel "Ulysses" the story of Leopold Bloom and his travels around Dublin?

Or, Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the U.S. who lead the Union in the Civil War?

It's probably named after the Greek King (given the name of his other work in Seattle). I, however, think this piece should be called Metallica, since it's made of heavy metal and looks like an electric guitar thrust into the ground. Also, when I think of L.A. I think of heavy metal bands from the 80s with their teased out hair, skin-tight jeans, and pointy guitars... Or, I think of Gidget and the Beach Boys.

Hey it's possible (just not probable)! Metallica started in 1981 and this statue is dated 1988.

Again, I love how Liberman is able to take these massive, heavy forms and make them seem as if they are floating in space; re-organizing themselves.

Location: Bunker Hill, Los Angeles