Some words must be said, some gesture must be made…no matter the cost.
480 BC. Greece. The battle of Thermopylae ( the gate of fire). Massive invasion of Greece by the Persian army, over 200,000 strong. King Leonidas and 300 Spartan elite soldiers made a last stand to allow the small Greek army (2000 men) to escape.
Leonidas and his braves were anihilated , But the following year, Greece rallied and stopped the invasion.
Of the 300 slain spartans, only DIECENES is granted by the Spartans the posthumous title Aristeia: ” most virtuous soldier” according to the Spartan way of life. The day of battle. facing the multitude of Persian archers, whose flying arrows would darken the sky, Diecenes’ reply: ” we shall fight them in the shade then”.
I made a sculpture to honour Diecenes: a bronze disc pierced with so many holes , it s no longer a shield made of bronze but a shield made of holes.
Diecenes’ shield is done. The sculpture , somehow has grown to 20 shields. I guess his slain companions wanted their voice heard as well. Dont know when , dont know how but the sculpture will grow to 300 shields … and how many holes i would have created by then. will report to you when the work is done.
