Sorel Etrog

One of the most influential Canadian artists of the 20th century, Sorel Etrog is perhaps best known for his bronze sculptures that blend abstract and figurative elements to explore the relationship between form and symbol, and the complex link between man and machinery in the nuclear age. Etrog worked in many disciplines—as a sculptor, painter, illustrator, filmmaker, writer, and philosopher. At the root of his diverse oeuvre lay a profound exploration of the human condition and the intricate web of forces that unite us, as seen in works like Homage to Cimabue (1968), which features the intertwining of an adult and child, whose hands are locked together. Over the course of his career, Etrog provided illustrations for the work of Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco, collaborated with the philosopher Marshall McLuhan and the musician John Cage, and in 1968 created the iconic statuettes used at the Canadian Film Awards, known today as “The Genies.”