Charles Mingus — Wood by Arnaud Quercy

About This Artwork

Carved from a single oak log, this vertical sculpture translates the physical and musical presence of Charles Mingus into wood. The legendary jazz bassist and composer, known for revolutionizing the double bass and creating some of jazz's most profound compositions, finds form through oak's raw density and carved surface. Vertical grooves cut into the wood symbolize bass strings, while angular cuts and negative spaces capture Mingus's artistic contradictions—the structural composer who taught by ear, the demanding perfectionist who pushed musicians toward greatness.

The oak's natural resistance during carving mirrors Mingus's uncompromising artistic vision and notorious temperament. The form stands tall and solid, destabilized by voids that create tension between strength and fragility. These carved spaces represent the double bass strings Mingus lifted from timekeeper to front-line voice, transforming the instrument's role in jazz. The vertical orientation emphasizes defiance and presence, qualities that defined Mingus's career and personality throughout his life from 1922 to 1979.

The sculpture operates outside systematic chromesthetic frameworks, representing free artistic expression within the Untamed Creations collection. Here, transliteration works through symbolic choice rather than reproducible system—verticality as defiance, oak's resistance as temperament, carved lines as musical strings. The piece captures a towering figure whose contributions to jazz composition and performance continue to influence musicians worldwide.

The work includes certificate of authenticity 20211231-0036 and is part of Arnaud Quercy's exploration of artistic expression through direct material engagement with wood.