GEGEN DEN STROM Bronze Sculpture

This bronze sculpture features a single golden fish moving against the flow, symbolizing individuality, resistance, and courage

Artwork Description

 about this bronze sculpture

“GEGEN DEN STROM” (2022) by Cordula Dobes is a bronze sculpture that portrays a school of abstracted fish swimming in rhythmic formation. Among them, a single golden fish moves against the flow, symbolizing individuality, resistance, and courage. The lateral current, expressed through the sweeping movement of forms, creates a visual tension that emphasizes the solo fish’s defiant path.

Dobes abstracts the fish into smooth, flowing shapes, capturing motion through gesture rather than detail. The composition avoids strict realism, choosing instead to evoke the essence of movement and determination. The bronze medium lends durability and contrast, with varied surface treatments reinforcing thematic differences.

The opposing fish, cast in a greenish blue patina suggest harmony, conformity, and collective momentum. Their direction aligns fluidly, creating a rhythm that flows horizontally across the sculpture. In stark contrast, the solitary golden fish stands out through color and orientation, becoming the focal point in both narrative and form.

Volume and balance are manipulated with precision. Concave and convex curves alternate, guiding the eye along and against the current. Each fish’s shape supports the overall unity of the work, despite their conflicting directions. This juxtaposition gives the piece its emotional weight.

The surface textures vary subtly. The patinated group reflects muted light, evoking the calm of deep waters. The polished gold fish captures brightness, symbolizing resolve and clarity. The interplay of finishes heightens the sculptural dialogue between independence and conformity.

Dobes’ modernist approach is evident in her reduction of forms to their expressive core. The impact lies in the arrangement, rhythm, and contrast, not in literal representation. Through these abstracted forms, she gives voice to personal and universal struggle.

“GEGEN DEN STROM” bronze sculpture invites viewers to reflect on resilience and the courage it takes to diverge from the norm. With sculptural clarity and poetic balance, the piece embodies movement, tension, and the beauty of going one's own way.

about the artist

Cordula Dobes is a Munich-based sculptor who has been working as a freelance artist since the 1990s. Her work has been successfully presented in numerous exhibitions across Germany and beyond. Dobes employs sculptural techniques to smooth out the spatial and cubic elements of her animal and human figures, utilizing volume, cube, space, area, and weight to achieve this effect.

Her creations often feature animals and human figures, reflecting her passion for these subjects and their expressive potential. Dobes' sculptures are characterized by an interplay of concave and convex forms, resulting in a harmonious balance that captures the essence of her subjects.

Her preferred medium is bronze, which she skillfully manipulates to create both small and large-scale works with tactile precision. One of her notable sculptures, "Bird of the Night," exemplifies her ability to abstract natural forms into essential, minimalist shapes.

Dobes' work has been featured in various galleries and art fairs. She embodies the precision and refinement of German craftsmanship through thoughtful execution and form. Her sculptural mastery focuses on form, balance, and spatial rhythm, inviting deeper reflection. She continues contributing to contemporary art with a unique sculptural language rooted in modernist tradition and technical discipline.

View her Dubai collection of available artworks here

Care

• Dust regularly with a soft cloth; avoid water or harsh cleaners.
• Apply metal-safe wax once or twice a year for protection.
• Keep sculpture away from direct sunlight and moisture.
• Use gloves when handling; consult experts for deep cleaning.

copyright

This bronze sculpture is one of a kind original therefore, all copyrights and reproduction rights are reserved by the artist.