Archer

Country: Spain

Manufactory: Lladro

Date of establishment: 2014

Sculptor: Juan Ignacio Aliena

Size (cm): 62*42

Limited Series

Porcelain Story

I love this piece very much. I do not even know why. Yes, it is unusual and rather complicated in terms of technique. Yes, the master managed to convey through the details and color variety not only the historical correspondence to the era of the hero of the composition, but also the restrained dynamics of the unrealized action. Just about, a little more, a few more moments - and the arrow fired by a skilled archer will reach the goal ...

I often looked at this work - and thought: what is it about? About the archer? About the horse, which seemed to have merged with the warrior, becoming one, without which the achievement of the goal would have become impossible? About the goal itself?

I remembered a short parable inspired by these reflections. One day an archery teacher invited a group of students to the forest. On a lawn flooded with soft morning light, he found a large old tree, hung a target for shooting on it and turned to the students with one question: what do you see in front of you?

“I see a big tree and a target hanging from it,” said the first of them.

"And I see not only a tree and a target, - answered the second. “I can still see green leaves and birds soaring in the sky above us".

"Before me, I see, first of all, of course, you, my respected teacher, - said the third of them. - Well, as well as a tree and a target on it ..."

Other young men said the same thing. Until the teacher stopped in front of his favorite student: - Well, what do you tell me?

"Forgive me, teacher, I must have something with my eyesight. But I do not see anything in front of me, except for the goal ... And I only think about how to achieve it."

How often do we have to be distracted by God knows what on the way to achieving our goal. But maybe that's how it's supposed to be? Until you can't focus on what's important...