Ibex, [1955]

Among Greek sculptors, Frosso Efthymiadi stands alone in her sustained focus on animal subjects. Her dedication sprang from a belief that sculpture should be ‘an art that accompanies people in their everyday lives.’ Small works were intended for interior decoration; larger ones for private gardens or public spaces. ‘I truly love pieces that adorn the garden, and I believe animals are ideal for this,’ she remarked in a 1954 radio interview.
This perception is particularly reflected in the works she created until the mid-1950s in terracotta, following realistic rendering. Thereafter, she turned to metal, forging brass or iron sheets and rods herself. This shift in material accompanied a striking move towards abstraction.

In 1955 she created “Ibex”, her final work in the animal series, which is strongly stylised and decorative. Originally also made in terracotta, the wild goat – of a species native to the mountainous regions of Crete – appears poised on a rocky outcrop, evoking its natural agility on steep slopes.