A bronze sculpture of a nude hockey player taking a slap shot, that fuses the modern with the ancient, will greet visitors to the gay meeting place at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Gay Whistler, which will sponsor PRIDE house at the ski resort during the Games, secured government grant money for “Slapshotolus,” a piece by Edmund Haakonson (full sculpture below). Dean Nelson of Gay Whistler described the meaning of the sculpture:
It is a symbolic expression of the concept that one who lives a life of noble ideals does not require protection, does not need to cover because there is nothing to hide. Haakonson has taken a Classical Greek image that is an expression of this ideal and given it a 21st century make over, a modern face. It is a connecting of the ideals of the ancient sacred games and the ideals of the modern Winter Games. In the process of the production of this work Haakonson discovered a strong resemblance between the pose of a hockey player drawn back to take a slap shot and the pose of the ancient Greek sculpture the Discus Thrower which increases the connection between ancient and modern.
Haakonson has his take:
“There is also an element honoring the Canadian sense of humor as expressed in popular television with shows like “This Hour Has Twenty Two Minutes,” “Royal Canadian Air Farce” and “Rent a Goalie.” The image of ancient nude sculpture makes perfect sense to us, the image of a hockey player makes perfect sense, the hybrid of the two has a decidedly amusing result. There is an element of the absurd in a hockey player wearing only skates, gloves and helmet, especially for anyone who has actually played hockey. There is however, no conflict in the absolutely serious and the humorous co-existing in a single work, I would suggest that it reflects the true reality of life.”
The piece is technically well done but I am resisting every urge to make a snarky comment lest I come across as some sort of Philistine. So I ask all you art devotees: Does this piece work? Thumbs up or thumbs down? Would you watch more hockey if the players skated nude? Will Johnny Weir pose with the sculpture?
"Slapshotolus"
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 10:39 AM
I think the piece works on the levels it intends. Beautifully done, with a wry sense of humor, and a wonderful reference to classical Greek sculpture. And we know how the gays love a beautiful body.
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Let’s be clear: It’s an excuse to get the image of a naked man into the venue so gay men will come in to see the front side of it. And I’m sure it will succeed!! It looks like a strong piece (I mean, the statue).
But “Slapshotolus”? Yikes.
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Cyd,
It does work on the level it intends, which is the same level our inner philistine works, so feel free to snicker and snark away.
Personally? Thumbs Down. I think it’s disingenuous to use blatant nudity in the name of “Classical Greek ideals”.
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 1:08 PM
I think it works very well. Buried under all that protective gear, hockey players use their bodies. Here, we’re seeing more of the physicality of the athlete in use by the athlete. It isn’t a static body; it’s a body hooked to a brain in action — a suggestion of the player’s subjective experience in using his own body. It’s a good piece.
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 1:44 PM
I play hockey. I live in Canada. I like art. I think it’s cool.
There. End of discussion.
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 1:45 PM
Turn around! We wanna see the front!
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 2:32 PM
bad idea! hockey skate + sensitive anatomy = horrible results
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 3:44 PM
but does it have a fig leaf
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 3:46 PM
maybe it’s a maple leaf
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 3:48 PM
Since Outsports readers are young, functionally illiterate, and bereft of cultural history despite having a repository of same at their fingertips, it goes without saying that none of you recall the statues flanking the opening gates at the L.A. Olympics. Guess who the male model was?
This sculpture is merely one in a long tradition. I’d suggest watching Olympia if I thought any of you could manage to avoid checking your Twitter a hundred times during it.
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 3:50 PM
Lose the helmet and gloves, and give him classical Greek curley hair. Nudity + helmet & gloves = cognitive dissonance.
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 4:46 PM
LOL @ Joe Clark.
on Jan 5th, 2010 at 5:20 PM
Its a pretty nifty statue. Thumbs up.
on Jan 6th, 2010 at 11:39 AM
It’s one of the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen!
on Jan 6th, 2010 at 12:12 PM
[...] if I get this right: In Canada, it is possible to get government funding for a bronze sculpture of a nude hockey player to be installed in Vancouver at the ‘gay meeting place’ for the Oympics. If that [...]
on Jan 6th, 2010 at 4:40 PM
[...] can read more about the nude hockey sculpture here, and learn more about PRIDE House by clicking on this [...]
on Jan 6th, 2010 at 5:23 PM
The Canadian women’s hockey team deserves a statue, too!
on Jan 7th, 2010 at 10:18 AM
I love the idea and wonder why we only see it from the back. In all seriousness I think its great. So many in men’s sports are held to some aggressive / strong standard that is in itself Freudian and suggestive. I mean men’s wrestling? Body building? Do we not see the irony in that? Keep up the good work.
on Jan 7th, 2010 at 10:33 AM
[...] via Outsports. [...]
on Jan 8th, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Just like the climax of the Paul Newman movie Slapshot. Only he’s missing the jockstrap and the Hanson bros are not present.
on Jan 9th, 2010 at 3:34 PM
An insult to hockey and to real men everywhere!!!!!!!!!
Melt it down and make something relelvant. Tax money paid for thisÉ What a shame.
on Jan 9th, 2010 at 7:21 PM
Hockry players make great underwear models!!
At first,thought the statue was in chocolate – lol [this explains my huge butt 
on Jan 11th, 2010 at 9:36 AM
I like it, well sculpted. And it has a bit of amusement with how ancient olympians would have played ice hockey. If they played like that then they’re definately rougher than we are today.
on Jan 11th, 2010 at 9:44 AM
It’s a dynamic and riveting piece of public sculpture, and 100 times more interesting and successful than most of the nerded-out referencial nepotistic art produced in Canada.
on Jan 11th, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Agree with nsfw, this is a very definitive piece of sclupture. The muscle detail is just nothing short of magnificient. For the rest of you prides, give-it-up, this is the 21th Century not the past Dark Ages!! NJMJr!
on Jan 11th, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Is this what Michelangelo would have produced if there were helmets and hockey sticks in his day?
on Jan 11th, 2010 at 4:15 PM
And how would you be defining “real men,” Bob?
Might some of them be built like a brick shithouse and fond of hockey? Well, hey, they’ve got a statue now.
on Jan 14th, 2010 at 9:11 AM
[...] was a little buzz last week when OutSports.com revealed the above picture of a statue “Slapshotolus” that will greet 2010 Olympic fans at the PRIDE House, a meeting place [...]
on Jan 14th, 2010 at 11:53 PM
Slapshotolus?? I don’t…I mean….uh….really?
on Jan 15th, 2010 at 12:46 PM
I’m going to do a “me too” type post.
I agree that the name is awful. Just awful.
The statue is done in a classical greek style, with an interesting modern twist. And, probably as the sculptor figured, some people will appreciate it for that, the level on which it’s intended, and others will appreciate it for what the front looks like.
on Jan 17th, 2010 at 11:16 PM
can’t decide, gotta see the other side of it first!
on Jan 18th, 2010 at 2:07 PM
I agree the name is terrible, but the statue ain’t half bad!
on Jan 20th, 2010 at 5:42 AM
[...] roze sporters en bezoekers gedacht: er is een speciale Olympic gay venue. Een bronzen beeld van een naakte ijshockeyer siert de ingang van ‘Pride House’ in het skigebied tijdens de Spelen. Gay Whistler otrganiseert [...]
on Jan 26th, 2010 at 12:58 AM
It works. The photos don’t do it justice. The youtube video of Slapshotolus Haakonson had done is better. But I was lucky enough to see it in person at the Edmonton preview.
It works.
on Jun 17th, 2010 at 3:02 PM
I was lucky enough to see the sculpture in Edmonton before it left for the olympics. I also know the artist. Slapshotlus is an amazing piece of work and succeeds at the artists intentions. Have a look at the full work, and the background behind it. I imagine you may change your mind.