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What are the qualities we associate with the RNLI? Heroism, self-sacrifice, courage, strength, and a sense of duty, to name but a few. A sculptural tribute to the work of the RNLI should embody these concepts. Hideo Furuta, a sculptor better known for his abstract work, responded to this challenge and created an ambitious figurative sculpture that has a strong narrative element, depicting the act of saving life at sea.
A large, muscular figure reaches out to save a life; his face is boldly carved. The roughness of the carving on the body contrasts with the smoothness of the head, where there is an expression of great concentration. His raised leg acts as a lever against the side of the boat, as he pulls up the survivor. The smoothly carved boat balances as if floating on air, with the sea implied around the figure below the boat. As an arm emerges from the turmoil of the sea, the face we see is still underwater. Central to the composition and narrative of the work are the clasping hands, as the hand reaching up from the sea holds on tightly, showing they are still alive.
The title, ‘Breathing at sea’ is enigmatic. It suggests a calm experience, yet saving life at sea, usually in extreme weather conditions, couldn’t possibly be a calm experience. Perhaps the title refers to the moment when the survivor has been reached, as shown here, when the firm grip on the survivor means that the danger has passed and they can now breathe easily. But it could also have a meaning for any of us who are out at sea, breathing easily in the knowledge that the RNLI is there should an emergency occur. |
