The Three Fates: Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos
2021
- Medium
- synthetic polymer paint and sand on canvas
- Measurements
- (a-c) 216.5 × 631.0 cm (overall)
- Place/s of Execution
- Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic
- Inscription
- (a) inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on reverse u.c.: VOJTĚCH / KOVAŘÍK / “CLOTHO” / MMXXI (all in a scalloped square)
inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on reverse u.c.l.: (square) (square) (tick) (in a square)
(b) inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on reverse u.c.: VOJTÈCH / KOVAŘÍK / “LACHESIS” / MMXXI (all in a scalloped square)
inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on reverse c.: (square) (tick) (in a square) (square)
(c) inscribed in blue fibre-tipped pen on reverse u.c.: VOJTĚCH / KOVAŘÍK / “ANTROPOS” / MMXXI (all in a scalloped square)
inscribed in blue fibre-tipped pen on reverse u.c.l.: (square) (square) (tick) (in a square) - Accession Number
- 2023.262.a-c
- Department
- Contemporary Art
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased with funds donated by July Cao, 2023
© Vojtěch Kovařík. Courtesy of the artist and Mendes Wood DM, São Paulo, Brussels, and New York - Gallery location
- Not on display
- About this work
-
Vojtěch Kovařík is inspired by motifs, symbols and narratives from ancient Greek and Roman mythology. On each of the three large canvases comprising the Fates Kovařík depicts the three ancient Greek goddesses of destiny: Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. These three sisters, known as the Fates, determined how long each mortal would live and the manner in which they lived. In literature and art this was symbolised by the Fates spinning the thread of human life that was created, measured, then cut, signalling death.
The Fates were typically emotionally detached and impartial. Kovařík’s figures however, express a sense of awe and pity which significantly liberates them from their ancient pagan context. Kovařík wants us to share and empathise with their anguish, subverting the traditional stereotype of ancient art that audiences are accustomed to.
