Roger Huang is a Taiwan-based artist who has a knack for immortalizing key moments in sports via some rather unconventional methods. His sculpture of Kobe Bryant wrestling naked with a snake caught the eyes of sports fans last week, now the artist explains what motivated him to create the piece.
The story behind the naked Kobe Bryant statue
An artist in Taiwan had a bold interpretation of Kobe Bryant, now he tells us the story.
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
"Achilles"
If Michael Jordan is considered the All-Mighty Zeus of basketball, then Kobe Bryant would be Achilles, the semi-god who was slightly flawed. In April, 2013, the Los Angeles Lakers' constant warrior fell, Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles tendon. Like the ancient Greek warrior, Achilles, who was shot in the heel with an arrow, he was just about to catch up to the man deemed God himself. But all was to no avail. Missing one championship, he was doomed to be just a semi-god.
This was the result of Bryant's ambition to lift his team's losing game by using up every bit of his strength and effort. In the end, he stressed himself out and was badly hurt. It's just as if his self (the giant Black Mamba) was trapping his ego (Kobe Bryant). His desire to win, and the pressure of playing against younger and talented opponents all clung tightly to his aging body. Time was ticking. Like always, Bryant used his supernatural will power to push back history's closing gate. This battle shall continue to the day he truly falls down. That's Kobe Bryant-Achilles-a warrior closest to becoming a god.
Huang also has another piece you may not have seen. It’s a little less dramatic than his Kobe piece, but has deep meaning behind it also.
"Every day I see my dream"
"Linsanity" started when Jeremy Lin came in off the bench against the then-New Jersey Nets, and dropped 25 points on the team's all-star point-guard Deron Williams and his team. After Lin's perfect breakthrough lay-up draws an "and one" foul from his opponent, he is excited and overwhelmed by his performance, pumps his fist into the air and lets out a roar, as if declaring to all his setbacks in the past: "don't you dare underestimate me!"
The media captured this gesture on film and his image soon went viral on the internet. For me, this gesture captured a touching moment, a declaration to the sporting world to get ready for what became an international phenomenon after Lin spurred the Knicks to seven straight wins.
I decided to preserve this moment in my sculpture, hoping to express that a moment of eternity had just passed before us. The reason why I applied a mirror finish to the sculpture is to insert a specific concept: when we look at Jeremy Lin, the Asian-American underdog, it's like looking at oneself; we all hope to be like him, so we reflect our own face onto his, and wish that our dreams would come true, just like his did. Although Lin is still battling on the playing field, his significance already outweighs his performance. He reminds us of the fact that, though life is full of setbacks, we must continue to encourage ourselves, grasp our opportunities, and pursue our dreams!
We had the chance to ask Roger Huang about his work, and where he wants it to go next.
What was the motivation behind sculpting Kobe Bryant nude?
To connect the imagination to ancient Greece and Rome’s sculpture, like Myron’s the Discobolus and Polykleitos’ the Doryphoros. In addition to this, show the strength and beauty of the human body.
What is the process you use to take an athlete and turn them into a sculpture?
First, draw my rough concept on papers. Second, use modeling clay shape by hand and with tools. Make a outer casing of poly, then turnover the material into mold until it forms.
You like capturing specific moments in time in your work. Is there another athlete or moment you’d like you sculpt?
Blake Griffin's posterizing dunk on Pau Gasol, Kendrick Perkins, and Kris Humphries. It's so powerful like a divinity and force of nature.
Other moments you’d like to immortalize?
Micheal Jordan flying in the air, Allen Iverson’s right hand near his ear to hear the answer and the Linsanity rise. Oh, don’t forget, Kobe came back strong and beat all the critics down.
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