“Love. It is nearly impossible to define, except by showing how it diminishes the importance of everything else.”
​-Richard Harmetz

Emotion

For his sophomore attempt, Richard aimed to create something truly significant. Recognizing that it would be a labor-intensive and time-consuming endeavor, he sought a subject with profound importance. It had to be compelling enough to keep him driven. He spent considerable time reflecting, determined to make the right choice..

At the time, Richard was managing his dental practice and seeing patients. During a brief period, he spoke with four different patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer. This experience sparked the inspiration for Healing Love. Creating Healing Love was no simple task. Here’s how the artist himself describes this powerful piece;

“When someone looks at Healing Love I am happy that they see a meaningful work of art. I think that most see a young breast cancer victim who is being lovingly caressed by her husband or lover. And I am very fine with that.

I was shooting for more. But people don’t look at sculpture by an unknown person and read things onto it like they would Rembrandt’s Night watch.

I was trying to use body language, typical human response, and movement to create a short imaginative story.

The male figure is not well defined. His entire surface is rough with little detail. The female is smooth with not a lot of detail except her left hand. That is the key to the story. She is not just resting her left hand on his left hand. She is forcefully holding it down and away from her surgical wound. The female figure is still self-conscious about her body.

Ten seconds earlier she was using a hand mirror to look at herself. With the robe off her shoulder, it is obvious she was looking at her wound. Would she have done that with her husband standing right behind her? No, this was a very personal moment. He was some distance away. He saw her looking at herself and came over to comfort her and express his love. His right hand is on her thigh, and he is dragging the robe up, showing that he still desires her. She is pleased and has a smile on her face but that left hand betrays her other feelings.”