Focus on Bearing Witness (sculpture) and explore the Artist.
Martin Puryear is a D.C. born artist known for his various abstract sculptures. Although his general expertise lies in woodworking, the all metal form of the sculpture “Bearing Witness” is one of a few that diverge from this background, such as his all brick sculpture “by Way of Africa”. Despite the change in medium, the sculpture still bears the abstract and minimalistic style that characterizes Puryear’s work, intentionally designing his sculptures to avoid forcing a rigid narrative on the audience. While leaving it open to interpretation, Puryear has confirmed some of the intent behind his sculpture, purposely selecting the location and orienting the sculpture outward from the Reagan Center. Mindful of the political and government setting the sculpture would be placed into, Puryear has commented the orientation facing away from the building represents how within a democracy “people talk back to the government”.
Martin Puryear