Houdini

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#A002 55” x 39” x 19” 80lbs.

This Houdini piece began when I first purchased the 1890s French wood art figure. I often saw Houdini in chains, locked up, then somewhere hidden were all sorts of skeleton keys, lock picks, and police handcuff keys.

Most of his tricks were timed, he was shackled on his arms and legs. I wanted rusted steel, to convey a feeling of rigidness.

Then, if you would, imagine what ‘other’ antique vintage accouterments would be in such a still-life. 

But I don’t like static artwork; so adding items with movement starts an immediate narrative or path to follow. So then comes dialog, metaphors, and the illusion of movement.

By studying Houdini’s life I learned he was a nutritionist and health nut who worked out regularly. Ironically his death came as an unexpected punch to his stomach causing a ruptured appendix, later leading to sepsis. Please note a tiny leather boxing glove here at his stomach. 

Death is a metaphor of the stopped pocket watch in his right hand pointing to a hand-carved antique abalone shell bouquet of flowers; it is often used in ancient burial cemetery plots. 

I enjoy building my pieces with metaphors much like a surrealist painting by adding a rabbit’s foot, dice, a sewing box with pins ‘lock picks’, combination safe dial, antique mousetrap… etc.

I keep building until I run out of ideas.

Michael Standefer

Detail 1

Detail 2