Hope (Walnut – 2020) by Alistair Bennett (Ali B), Wood, Bronze, Edition of 3, 22cm high, 10m wide, 8cm deep, Body, Other, Figurative sculpture, Hand.
This piece radiates determination from the moment you encounter it. The sculpture lifts a clenched fist upward, and this bold gesture immediately asserts strength, resolve, and an unwavering push toward progress. Instead of relying on a single carved block, Bennett builds the hand from layered walnut panels, and this construction method gives the piece a deliberate rhythm. Each layer feels purposeful, as if resilience itself forms through accumulated experiences rather than a single defining moment.
The warm grain of the walnut contrasts strikingly with the cool bronze base, and this pairing adds another level of tension and harmony. The wood brings organic warmth and depth, while the bronze stabilizes the energetic thrust of the rising fist. As your eye follows the contours of the layered panels, subtle shifts in tone, shape, and shadow animate the sculpture, giving it the sense of something that continues to rise even after reaching its full height.
Although the piece stands at 22 cm high with a notably wide span, it commands far more presence than its modest scale suggests. The stacked planes sharpen the form’s upward drive, and the interplay between wood and bronze strengthens the impression of grounded hope. Moreover, the sculpture’s hand-forward design doesn’t simply show optimism, it pushes it outward, asking the viewer to share in the momentum.
Ultimately, Bennett transforms a universal symbol into a contemporary meditation on persistence. Through layering, contrast, and a gesture filled with intention, Hope (Walnut – 2020) turns a simple fist into a powerful statement of rising through adversity.
