Vulnerability

My sculpture of Samson came about without any specific intent in the beginning. I began by creating a pained male figure, contemplating something within his hands. I wanted him to look powerful, yet alone. I finished building the figure before I was to discover what he was to become.

I was inspired by 17th century baroque sculptures. Their faces and forms have an expressive, almost mannerist quality. An obvious example of this would be Bernini’s quixotic sculpture, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. Her supremely expressive visage conveys an almost palpable sense of immense pleasure.

The Spanish also sculpted many expressive and vivid portraits. Life size figures with a level of realism that is seldom displayed in sculpture.

Realism isn’t always a goal of mine, but I do wish to create a countenance that stirs empathy. I wanted this figure to have flesh that seemed tangible. So I gave him a pale forehead, one that looked feverish, lurid eyes and full hanging lips. I wanted the viewer to feel that if they reached out and held their hands to his cheek he would feel it and respond to the warmth of their fingertips.

I was somehow reminded of the story of Samson and Delilah. I had a vague recollection of the story which was taught to me growing up as a Biblical lesson. Samson, I remembered, was given the gift of immense strength so that he may serve the Lord. His power would remain if he did not cut his hair, and therefore he must keep the source of his strength a secret. He was foolishly seduced by Delilah, and for this woman he disobeyed God and told her this sacred secret. He was punished greatly for his disobedience. Samson had a great gift bestowed upon him, and threw it away because of his lust. As a young girl I suppose this made sense, but as an adult I tried to imagine why Samson would give up such a gift.

To brush up on this tale, a few friends and I held kind of a Bible study and worked together to divine the meaning. (Truly it was the most entertaining Bible study I had ever attended.) In the version we read I think that Samson was married to Delilah. Samson was murdering the Philistine people for God, and as you might expect, the Philistines wanted Samson dead. Delilah was given money to betray Samson. She threatened to distrust his love if he did not reveal the secret to his powers. He lied and said, "If anyone ties me with seven fresh thongs that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man." That night he was attacked in this manner. This happened several more times, and each time Delilah said that if he truly loved her he would tell the truth. Samson, who was obviously desperately in love with this woman, eventually revealed the truth to her. He was then attacked, his hair was cut, his hands were bound and had his eyes gouged out.

In the story, Samson knew that Delilah had betrayed him before he ever gave up his secret. Samson willful sacrificed himself to a woman who would see him killed. He let her bind him and destroy him so that he might prove his love for her. He must have had an immense desire to share his secret, at any cost.

Samson effectively wields this scissors himself, makes himself bleed, creates his own demise for the pleasure of another. I don't view his character as foolish, or wicked but as a man whose desperation, loneliness and devotion are his greatest weaknesses.