The Sun Singer in Millesgården is overlooking Stockholm across the blue water and facing the sun. He does not have arm to wave to the passing ships. Since waving to ships is not his purpose of life, not having arms is not as sorrowful as not having head and so no mouth to sing.
This broken sun-singer reminds me of the sad “Happy Prince” statue in Oscar Wilde’s story. The Happy Prince has given up all his shiny gold, ruby, sapphires to the poor and looked shabby.
“So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince. ‘As he is no longer beautiful he is no longer useful,’ said the Art Professor at the University.”
So the Happy Prince statue was melted in furnace, however his broken heart survived the furnace, which been taken by the angel to God.
I believe as long as his heart is still beating, the sun-singer is able to sing by heart. As I looked upon the statue, the sunbeam shined into my eyes, my feet felt the heat of the summer earth, accompanied by the sounds of Stockholm’s water waves. And I heard a song about tomorrow.
10.09.2019 Millesgården, Stockholm.
Note:
The Sun Singer is a sculpture by Carl Milles (1875-1955). More information about the Sun Singer please visit:
https://www.millesgarden.se/the-middle-terrace.aspx