Rudolf Hirt
Ganesh, 1991
Artwork Brief Description
Hirt’s interpretation of *Ganesha* blends traditional Hindu iconography with his own artistic vision. Deviating from typical depictions, his Ganesha holds a pig instead of a lotus, inviting deeper interpretation. The sculpture’s details—such as the small monkey-like mouse at its feet—enrich its symbolism, reinforcing themes of wisdom, enlightenment, and overcoming adversity.
Rudolf Hirt (born October 19, 1947) is an Austrian sculptor.
Influenced by his father, who was a resistance fighter and communist, he attended the master class for sculpture and painting at the Ortwein School in Graz after completing his apprenticeship as a sculptor. He completed his studies at the Academy for Applied Arts in Vienna.
After years of traveling the world, he returned to his hometown Scheifling in 1977, where he works as a freelance sculptor.
He is married to Angelika Hirt, who is also a sculptor and with whom he has three children who are also artistically active. Together with his wife he founded the Hirt-Haus Atelier, where he organizes exhibitions, workshops and symposia.
Rudolph Hirt (Austrian b.1947) Ganesh, 1991
In his varied practice, Austrian artist Rudolph Hirt is concerned not just with faithful depictions of the world, but instead, he combines different cultural sources and artistic references to create sculptures full of joy and intrigue. His “Ganesha” is a perfect example of this, recalling the Indian God from Hindu scripture, Ganesh. By referencing Ganesh, Hirt establishes a context in which the sculpture can be read whilst exercising his artistic licence to convey his personal ideas and interpretations.
In Hindu tradition, Ganesha is revered as the “Lord of Beginnings” and the “Remover of Obstacles,” as well as the patron of arts and sciences and the god of intellect and wisdom.
The Hindu tradition offers numerous stories explaining how Ganesha acquired his distinctive elephant head, which is often interpreted as a symbol of intelligence, discernment, fidelity, and other virtues attributed to elephants. Additionally, Ganesha’s large ears are said to signify wisdom and the ability to listen attentively to those in need of guidance.
Traditionally, Ganesha is depicted with four arms, each bearing significant symbols. One of the most prominent of those is the lotus flower, held typically in a left hand, representing the universal themes of overcoming adversity and achieving enlightenment. However, in Hirt’s unique portrayal, Ganesha is depicted with just two arms, and the lotus is conspicuously absent. Instead, he holds a small pig, a departure from traditional iconography that invites deeper interpretation.
A closer examination of Ganesha’s right hand in this depiction reveals a subtle gesture, gently touching the side of his trunk. This may reference “Om,” the primordial sound symbol of cosmic reality in Hindu philosophy. At Ganesha’s feet, a small monkey-like mouse leans against his leg, which can be interpreted in several ways. The first is that Ganesha, like a mouse, is able to enter the most secret of places. The second is that the mouse represents desire, with vermin generally being known for their destructive qualities. So, the fact that the mouse is holding on to the leg means that the mouse sees Ganesha as its master, meaning that the mouse represents those who wish to overcome their selfish desires. This amalgamation of allegory and invention is perfectly described in his artistic credo, which is,
“I have turned to a formal language that contains beauty and joy in equal measure.”
His Ganesh is certainly both beautiful and joyful. Its large, rotund belly is symbolic of the created universe, embodying the entirety of the cosmos as described in Hindu scriptures. Within this cosmic belly, the seven realms above and below the seven oceans are believed to be contained, held together by a cosmic energy that unifies all existence.
The two tusks of Ganesha symbolise the dual aspects of human personality: wisdom and emotion. The right tusk represents wisdom, while the left tusk stands for emotion. In traditional depictions, the left tusk would be broken, conveying a profound philosophical message—the necessity of overcoming emotions with wisdom to achieve perfection.