Question

Androgyn III is a sculpture created by Magdalena Abakanowicz in 1985. It is made of burlap, resin, wood, nails, and string. The sculpture features a back portion of a hollow human torso seated on a low bench that resembles a stretcher. The bench is made of rough-hewn wooden logs with handles wrapped in string. The legs of the figure end at the knees, with indentations indicating muscles and a spine. The arms are entirely missing. The figure is androgynous, lacking defining features that indicate gender. Its form is meant to be viewed in the round, emphasizing both the exterior and interior. What is the main function of Androgyn III?

1) To express the suffering caused by war and totalitarian state
2) To make genderless, universal figures to represent the horrors of war and expose dehumanization
3) To showcase fragmented human form lacking defined body parts
4) To depict a shell or husk of a person without arms, legs, or head to express the suffering of war victims

Answer 1

The 'Androgyn III' sculpture by Magdalena Abakanowicz mainly serves to express the suffering brought on by war and totalitarian regimes, as well as illustrating the dehumanization resulting from such conflicts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main function of 'Androgyn III' by Magdalena Abakanowicz is to express the suffering caused by war and totalitarian states and to expose the dehumanization that accompanies such conflicts. Abakanowicz's sculptures, including 'Androgyn III,' utilize various materials to create forms that often reflect on themes such as fragility of humans and the impact of violence and oppression on the human condition.

The figure's lack of complete limbs and indistinct gender highlights the universal impact of war, stripping away individual identity and leaving behind a fragmented, hollow form that serves as a powerful visual metaphor for the loss experienced by victims of war.