SELENE – moon goddess (sinful sunday)

By | 6th January 2018

I love London. So often you stumble across something totally unexpected. Walking though Soho the other day, having been on shopping trip for…well, never mind what I had been shopping for… I turned a corner to find this statue on the Nadler Hotel.

It stopped me for several minutes and then, having torn myself away as far as Oxford Street, I walked back to take this image.

nadler statue 2

I love, it’s art deco feel, the mysterious symbolism in the garlands she carries and her beautiful curves. Yet, when I saw it, my first thought was, “Ooh, that’s kinky” and I still find it so. I can’t quite work out why. Perhaps it’s her dominant position standing over me; the ethereal wings that mark out her “otherness;” or perhaps its the combination of strength and control she seems to exude while smiling at me kindly. The way that Elita smiles at me and softly mutters “there, there” into my ear before hurting me again. Yeah, that’ll be it.

 

Here is Hew Locke, the sculptor, on his own work:

“I was commissioned by The Nadler Hotel to create a figurative sculpture representing Sleep. I wanted to make a classical statue with a contemporary twist, partly inspired by Art Nouveau designs of dreamy women, but with a feel of intensity and ritual.  Selene is an powerful goddess reworked for today’s London – a dream-weaver and magical protector.”

“I have shown Selene floating at the center of a galaxy of stars, ceremonially offering garlands representing magical potions associated with sleep and love.  Referencing Soho’s Theatreland, I have included belladonna (a plant that has been suggested as creating Juliet’s deep-sleep in Romeo and Juliet) and pansies (used as a love potion in A Midsummer Night’s Dream).  Two different night-blooming flowers, both known as ‘Queen of the Night’  – one a type of cactus, the other a type of jasmine – are joined by winged masks of the Greek personification of sleep, Hypnos.”

 

For more kink in surprising places try this  delightfully spanky marquetry from an old town hall!

As always more Sunday Sin here:

Sinful Sunday

16 thoughts on “SELENE – moon goddess (sinful sunday)

  1. Jade

    I was immediately struck by the statue as evoking something kinky…perhaps the “pins” all over her? I don’t know, but it’s a powerful image.

    Reply
  2. Jo

    I love the intricate details on the statue, and I definitely see it as kinky – there are *plenty* of people whose kink is goddess worship!!!

    Reply
  3. May More

    What an amazing thing! I am hardly ever in London but would love to photograph it – I just love the design 😉

    Reply
  4. Kilted Wookie

    I remember seeing that and thinking it would make a great addition to my 365 project, but my phone was out of battery so couldn’t.

    KW

    Reply
  5. Molly

    I can’t believe I have never spotted this before. I must look out for it next time I am there because it is beautiful and I love the artist description of it

    Mollyx

    Reply

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