Although Karoo is best known for his large and elaborate constructions, he also took delight in producing smaller carvings, works that reveal his ingenuity on a more intimate scale. The present sculpture, dating to 1971 or early 1972, belongs to the period before the artist introduced his distinctive asymmetrical eye treatment, the feature that later led many of his works to be identified, accurately or otherwise, as spirits or shamans.

This sculpture stands out as an unusual variation within his practice as it seems designed to be viewed from above, with the head tilted back several degrees beyond the horizontal and the clenched hands thrust upward. From this vantage point the viewer encounters, primarily, the upturned face and raised hand, while the columnar torso slips from immediate view. Such a design encourages us to consider whether the work might represent Karoo himself, gazing heavenward in search of inspiration.

MBL