Baj, Enrico | Maternità, 1974 — available on Composition Gallery

Mechanic sculpture

Maternità by Enrico Baj, created in 1974, is a mixed media sculpture that reflects Baj's signature use of mechanical elements and his playful approach to form. Measuring 50 x 14 x 13 cm, the sculpture is assembled from various industrial and mechanical components, including metal plates, gears, and bolts, reminiscent of a toy construction set. The piece takes on a humanoid form, representing a figure holding a smaller object, evoking the theme of motherhood (Maternità means maternity in Italian). The blue, red, and metallic hues create a striking contrast, and the use of everyday materials transforms the figure into an expressive, satirical representation of human emotion. Baj’s ability to mix whimsical and industrial aesthetics invites viewers to reflect on the relationship between humanity and mechanization in a modern, industrialized society.

Enrico Baj (Italy, 1924–2003) was a visionary artist and writer associated with the Nuclear Art and CoBrA movements. Known for his satirical works, Baj used materials like fabric and found objects to critique authority and societal norms. His vibrant, surrealist-inspired pieces, including his iconic Generals series, continue to captivate with their humor and political edge.

Enrico Baj

Maternità, 1974

Name: Maternità, 1974
SKU: 11131
Price: 4850.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Sculpture / Object

Sculpture / ObjectA sculpture is a three-dimension object made using any one of the basic sculpting processes. These include carving, casting, constructing or modeling. Carving materials may be bone, ivory, stone or wood. Modeling and casting use clay or wax, while constructions glue materials together.

Medium

Mixed Media

Mixed MediaMixed media refers to artwork that incorporates more than one medium within a single piece. Unlike multimedia art, which combines distinct forms of visual art and often includes elements like sound, video, or digital media, mixed media focuses on combining traditional art materials, such as paint, ink, and collage. Mixed media art allows artists to achieve a wide range of effects and textures by layering and blending different materials.

Edition

Edition of 100

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Limited Edition Print

Enrico Baj was an artist whose work spanned a number of fields, including printing, sculpture and painting – Baj was heavily associated with both the surrealist and dada movement; he was also involved with the CoBrA movement and worked alongside fellow progressive artists such as Yves Klein, Marcel Duchamp and the novelist, Umberto Eco. Alongside Asger Jorn, Baj founded the Movimento Nucleare – a reaction from various artists to the use of nuclear power - following the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Unlike abstract art, this movement was blatantly political; Baj had a long-standing disdain for the militarism of the time and rejected the authorities that ruled – a lot of his early work openly criticised current political affairs. Among his best-known outputs is Generals, a series of bizarre characters that have been made from various found objects including medals and belts.

Artwork by Roger Raveel

What is new figuration?

Neo-Figurative Art is a collective term that refers to the revival of figurative art in America and Europe during the 1960s, following a period dominated by abstraction. Michel Ragon, a French art critic, argued that this resurgence of figuration occurred during a critical time of social and political upheaval in both regions.

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Enrico Baj