the environment and overpopulation - really have apparent solutions in any other. In the sculpture "Centaur", the ancient Greek myth about the horse with a human head, id reflected directly in the modern speeding human machine; the motorcyclist. One can sense the skilled symbiosis between man and motorcycle, the euphoria of control, but also the presence of danger- the willingness to surrender to be driven by the machine, regardless of the risks. The mass of the machine, its power and speed are superior compared to human physique. A personal experience of a motorcycle accident hovers in the background as well... Mr. Weckstrom warns against making too narrow interpretations. He wants by no means to discredit technology as bad, as he finds the emerging interaction between people and machines extremely fascinating. He feels he is profoundly part of this for Mankind new situation, trying to perceive the extent of the fundamental change taking place. Machinery has influenced people's lives since the invention of the watch. Man is slowly adapting characteristics from the machinery he has created. The relationship of interaction between man and machine is very young. If the modern human being, Homo Sapiens, has been in existence for the past 1500 generations, then only 5 generations has been in interaction with machines.
Mr. Weckstrom sees this symbiosis in principle as positive. Its importance is increasing - in the near future an entirely mechanical heart is more reliable than one transplanted from another human being. Neither of the great problems of our time - the degeneration of
fielks of science apart from the ever developing technology. The current rate of change and development is so dramatically rapid and total, that predicting the future is becoming more difficult, almost impossible.
Thirty or forty years back there was still time to reflect about things, and make decisions in time - nowadays there is minimal time left for gathering and producing the necessary information needed to make decisions. In a way we are falling into the future.
From the Riace Bronzes to Reflective Realism The receiving of an artistic message - the reception - may also be a very deeply creative incident. In Bjorn Weckstrom's case, this is proved by his description of an experience concerning the so-called bronzes of Riace. These ancient Greek bronze sculptures had been found in an old shipwreck, off the coast of Sicily. The sculptures had undergone restoration and were placed for display in Florence, where Mr. Weckstrom came across them. The sculpture duo portrays two warriors; actually they are the one and same Olympic winner, in one he is a youth in his twenties, and in the other he is in his forties, growing old! In his superior arrogant strength he is challenging his own elderly, more experienced, yet introvert self. The elderly man is heavier, been through the school of life, yet one more time concentrated on correcting the bouncy youth.
