Venus

I recently came across the artistic piece from modern artist, Alex Rietveld, entitled, “Venus de Biomechanica.”

It’s an interpretation of the classic sculpture, “Venus de Milo.” You know, the statue of a woman with no arms. Anyway, Rietveld’s approach for “Venus de Biomechanica” offered a different interpretation of famous sculpture, probably suggesting the faster paced society in which we live, one which also places such importance on manipulating our image as well. That’s what I saw. This female form was armless, just like the classic work. However, the more modern “add-ons” included what looked to me like a gas mask and a machine gun arm strapped to the statue. And then there was some strange looking headpiece, worn like a tiara, resembling, possibly some monitoring device for the female’s electrode responses. It was far from the classic Greek form we know both in the art world and in popular culture today. I also checked out the original Venus as well.

Indeed, the original classic is breathtaking, carrying with it a rich history of Greek culture and also controversy. When discovered, supposedly in the 1800’s, the statue created quite a stir, as immediately, individuals fought to possess it, (of course). And then there was the matter of the missing arms and pedestal, also contributing more questions to the actual artist behind the feminine form. And since that time, the Venus de Milo has gotten quite a lot of attention. In popular culture, she’s been referenced by the likes of Miles Davis and Chuck Berry in their music, as well as popping up in such television shows as “The Simpsons” and “Twin Peaks.” I’ve even seen her as a kitchen magnet and a carved bar of soap. Yep, Venus is everywhere. And it’s no wonder. After all, she was originally regarded, adored and even worshipped as Aphrodite, “the love goddess,” the epitome of all that is feminine, graceful and beautiful. Then it should come as no shock that she’s still influential here and now. And, whether it’s her original form or interpretations like “Venus de Biomechanica,” something is still not lost on me: the impact of her arms, or rather, lack of them. My interpretation, as I consider Ms. Venus, is that her beauty standard has so overshadowed what her arms literally and figuratively represent: power and ability. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love this art work; it’s still one of my favorites. I just can’t help but note the attention she garners, in spite of her missing limbs. And, yes, I admit to being biased. Because of the filter of eating disorder experience and awareness, through which I’ve now come to view matters of image, beauty and power, I read something more with her. Perhaps it’s there; perhaps it isn’t. But the missing arms, to me, register as significantly representing a kind of powerlessness, both emanating from and co-existing with her emphasized physical beauty. And it can be insidious to think about, especially in such an image driven culture in today’s society. No matter what we may espouse concerning intellect, character, kindness and all manner of “inner beauty,” we still have rampant eating disorders, diets and plastic surgery going on in our world today. Everyone wants to be eternally young, beautiful, thin and perfect, it seems. I remember years ago, coming across a study in which a group of children were given the choice between being overweight or losing their limbs. Shockingly, overwhelmingly, the majority of these children chose to lose their limbs instead of enduring the stigma which comes from the dreaded “f” word in our culture: “fat.” Is that the message we want to communicate, however, when we depict beauty? Beauty at all cost? Obtain beauty, to the exclusion of more important things in life? Beauty needs to be achieved, even employing harmful methods? And that leads me back, again, to “Venus de Biomechanica.” As I mentioned earlier, this piece seemed to concentrate on the more modern add-on elements concerning the beauty aesthetic. Whether it’s the machine gun arm, the gas mask or that electrode gathering looking headpiece, there seems to be a message stressing the importance of manipulating what is already beautiful in each of us, to conform to society’s standard of beauty. And, then, once you do such a thing, you become armless and powerless. But that’s of no matter, apparently. Because, after all, you’re still considered beautiful by choosing to conform to society’s definition of beauty. And that’s all that counts, right? I have repeatedly referenced scriptures on idolatry and image in my writing and in my speaking engagements. I know I probably sound like a broken record. But I continue to see just how consumed we are in this day and age with that subject matter. God seems to think the issue is worth paying attention to. There doesn’t seem to be much which has changed from the time of ancient scripture to now. The “Greek” attitude to idolatry still exists. “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” Acts 17:16 But the instruction to this heart attitude also still exists. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” 1 John 5:21 A statue is just a statue. In and of itself, it cannot do anything positive for us. “What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.” Habakkuk 2:18-19 It is a dumb idol, no matter how beautiful it may be. If our hearts get caught up in it as representing something “God-like,” however, then we have a big problem; then it becomes harmful to our souls. Let’s not forget a pretty hefty commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3 God doesn’t give us this commandment because He wishes to take away our joy and fun in life. No, instead, He knows the harm which comes from idolatry, getting our hopes pinned on something which will only fail and disappoint us in the end, detracting from us living a fulfilling life and distracting us from engaging in a real relationship with a loving God and Father. “Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.” 1 Corinthians 8:7 We give our strength and ourselves to something which will one day vanish. One day, as wonderful as the “Venus de Milo” is, she will crumble. One day, youth will fade. One day, our “permanent solutions” will fail us. Why, exactly, do we try to conform to something which is not God? When that conforming fails, then what? “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 God has not called us to be crafted after a powerless image. Scripture tells us, in fact… “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 But it’s based on His Image, not anyone or anything else’s image. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27 Can we dare to bravely pursue that concept? Can we dare to pursue God? Our decision could determine between the powerful and the powerless result. Let’s find our arms and our God-given power in Him! Leave the statue, the manufactured and manipulated image alone! Let’s be who God has created us to be! Indeed, that’s true beauty! Let’s be armed with that! Copyright © 2012 by Sheryle Cruse