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Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
October 2019
Slate, galvanized and powder-coated steel
30.5 × 42 × 7 in. (77 × 107 × 18 cm)
Sisyphean Circle (Tefillin) draws its title from the small black steel element that anchors the circular form to the base, recalling the Hebrew tefillin (phylacteries)—small leather boxes containing passages from the Torah that are traditionally bound to the arm and forehead during prayer as symbols of faith, remembrance, and devotion. Here, the stone becomes both burden and sacred object, suggesting that the weight we carry can also be a source of purpose and spiritual meaning.
Like other works in the Sisyphean Circle series, the sculpture suggests a figure engaged in the timeless act of lifting or guiding a stone. Inspired by Albert Camus' reinterpretation of the Sisyphus myth, the work embraces the creative process as an act of perseverance and affirmation. Rather than dwelling on endless labor, it celebrates the journey itself, reminding us that meaning is found not in reaching the summit, but in the continual act of striving.
— John Van Alstine
October 2019
Slate, galvanized and powder-coated steel
30.5 × 42 × 7 in. (77 × 107 × 18 cm)
Sisyphean Circle (Tefillin) draws its title from the small black steel element that anchors the circular form to the base, recalling the Hebrew tefillin (phylacteries)—small leather boxes containing passages from the Torah that are traditionally bound to the arm and forehead during prayer as symbols of faith, remembrance, and devotion. Here, the stone becomes both burden and sacred object, suggesting that the weight we carry can also be a source of purpose and spiritual meaning.
Like other works in the Sisyphean Circle series, the sculpture suggests a figure engaged in the timeless act of lifting or guiding a stone. Inspired by Albert Camus' reinterpretation of the Sisyphus myth, the work embraces the creative process as an act of perseverance and affirmation. Rather than dwelling on endless labor, it celebrates the journey itself, reminding us that meaning is found not in reaching the summit, but in the continual act of striving.
— John Van Alstine
