"Leap of Faith (Getting Over)"
Signed M. Executed in 2018. Edition 4/5. Polished bronze. Height incl. podium 157 cm.
The child is always present in Maria Miesenberger's art. Just as in Miesenberger's photographic images, with blackened and reworked images from the family photo album, in the sculpture “Leap of Faith (Getting Over)” she has erased all personal traits and attributes. One of the children in the artist's photographs seems to have stepped out and taken three-dimensional form.
Another example of Maria Miesenbergr’s sculpture ”Leap of Faith (Getting Over)” is placed at Stockholm School of Economics. The School’s President, Lars Strannegård, writes about the sculpture at the SSE’s webpage:
“The title of the sculpture is Leap of Faith. It is derived from the philosopher Søren Kirkegaard who argued that it is necessary to leave the phase of reflection and just go for it, take action. A commercial sports apparel company would probably phrase it as Just Do It. But a Leap of Faith is something more profound. If you take a leap of faith, you do something even though you are not certain whether you will succeed or not. It is about taking on challenges and thereby taking risk. It is about having trust in yourself and others.
A Leap of Faith is about believing in oneself while being humble to one’s shortcomings and lack of knowledge. It is about the act of looking for knowledge. It is about a process, not a steady state. It is about doing something, of being on the move. Trying, experimenting, having grit.”