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The Midpoint is a 2017 hyperrealist hand-patinated resin sculpture created by New York artist Carole Feuerman representing a young woman wearing a one-piece bathing suit and swim cap after just exiting the water, still dripping wet.

History


The Midpoint made its world debut in 2017 at Feuerman's solo showing at Giardino della Marinaressa park, part of the 57th Venice Biennale in Italy. Later in 2018, it appeared in her individual outdoor exhibition along the sea in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. In 2019, it arrived in Tübingen, Germany (near Stuttgart) to appear in the “Musée Imaginaire” where it is currently being exhibited.

Creation
The sculpture, depicting French-Mexican actress Yadira Pascault Orozco as a swimmer, began with an extensive plaster-casting and molding process at Feuerman's Manhattan studio. Pascault Orozco and Feuerman had met the week before in Los Angeles at the opening of Feuerman's sculpture show entitled "Perception" at KM Finearts. Pascault Orozco flew out to New York several days later to begin a week-long process of being molded and cast by Feuerman and her team with plaster and fiberglass to make a sculpture of her likeness.

Tübingen Controversy
In late 2019, the mayor of Tübingen, Germany Boris Palmer chose Feuerman's "The Midpoint" to appear at the “Musée Imaginaire” by SWR2 Hölderlinturm on the Neckar River. Later on, a heated dispute over the piece erupted in Tübingen.

According the the German newspaper Wochenblatt Reutlinger, the mayor of Tübingen Mayor Boris Palmer, fell in love with the sculpture and, since there was no space in the town hall, he wants to permanently place it in front of the Tübingen River shorefront. "Midpoint" is the name of the object, created by the American sculptor Carole A. Feuerman. It shows a swimmer with a bathing cap who seems to have just emerged from the water. "I am convinced that this first work of art in public space will be a great asset for the Kunsthalle and the city, thanks to my initiative," he said.

The city’s art commission and culture committee and local council had not been consulted and questioned the decision asking, Should a mermaid be installed on the shore of the Neckar river near the university, and if so, why?

The art commission had found out about the planned sculpture only a few days before the cultural committee meeting, in which the local council and the public were informed. A well-founded statement in this short period was not possible. The press release published a short time later by the Kunsthalle caused irritation. It said: "The municipal art commission advised on the project and made a positive statement about the quality of the work." This was not the case. They also said that it is a highly stylized body image based on a defined ideal of beauty and that in comparison to other new hyper-realistic sculptural works, this is to be seen as an artistic anachronism.

However art director, Nicole Fritz strongly defended the acquisition of the sculpture proclaiming it as contemporary because it addresses the role of women. The woman is not portrayed as an object as in advertising, but rather confidently and self-determined in harmony with herself and nature. The young woman exudes self-confidence and serenity. “Midpoint” is contemporary because the work literally lifts the body onto the pedestal as an instance of self-assurance and, last but not least, throws the viewer back on their own physicality.