‘Head of Goliath’ by Nicolas Holiber, New York City. Images by Ilana Novick
 
NEW YORK – There’s a 4-feet-tall severed head in Tribeca, but the office workers happily eating lunch in Tribeca Park, a triangular green oasis a block below Canal Street don’t seem disturbed. The head is lying sideways, having abandoned its former bodily home. Fortunately this is not the beginning of a Law and Order episode, but rather sculptor Nicolas Holiber’s intriguing The Head of Goliath.

According to the artist, “The mixed media sculpture is [Holiber’s] interpretation of the biblical story and long‐standing art historical theme of David and Goliath.”

The head looks a little defeated, lying on its side with tired eyes. I almost felt bad for him, until I saw the title and remembered to root for the underdog.

This head without a body is composed of pink, blue, and wooden boards, most of which were salvaged shipping pallets and other reclaimed debris. There’s a piece of pink material hanging off the side of the mouth like a panting dog’s tongue. Like Superman in the comics, the giant has blue hair.

Some of the sticks have a street art past all of their own. A quick glance at downtown street art prankster Hanksy’s Instagram page reveals that much of the debris was taken from the destruction of “Best of the Worst,” the show that Hanksy staged on Delancey Street earlier this year.

I love the idea that artists are recycling materials like this – it’s eco friendly, economical and, I hope, an inspiration for other artists to see how they can remix and rework each other’s materials.

Down but but not out, The Head of Goliath will be on view through Sept. 15. Image by Daniel Albanese via thedustyrebel.com.