The Bench by Peter Hayes, Bronze, Edition of 2, 130cm high by 173cm wide by 67cm deep, Abstract, Family, Figurative, People sculpture
The Bench by Peter Hayes is a bronze sculpture, edition of 2, measuring 130 cm high, 173 cm wide, and 67 cm deep. The piece depicts a group of figures sitting closely together on a single bench, merging into a unified, abstract form.
The figures are minimal in detail, with bodies blending seamlessly while individual heads remain distinct. Some figures display subtle chest protrusions, suggesting gender, while their feet appear in irregular numbers, emphasizing abstraction over realism. One figure holds a smaller figure on its lap, the child’s upper body extending outward while the lower half merges with the surrounding forms.
Hayes focuses on gesture and posture rather than fine detail. The figures’ overlapping forms create rhythm, movement, and a sense of intimacy. Their fusion emphasizes connection, shared space, and the physical closeness of community.
The bronze retains natural tonal variation, with polished areas highlighting contours and soft curves. Shadows deepen in the spaces between forms, enhancing depth and dimensionality.
The Bench balances human presence and abstraction. Its unified bodies, contrasting heads, and layered composition suggest narrative, intimacy, and shared life. The sculpture invites viewers to explore relationships, physicality, and the tension between individuality and collective form. It transforms a simple act of sitting into a complex, visually engaging composition.
