Artwork: Ying-Yang Torso (replica)

Arne Jones studied at the Royal Institute of Art in the 1940s, where he was taught by Eric Grate and later met Bror Hjort, who became something of a mentor. He was part of the group of artists known as the ‘1947-års män’ (The 1947 men), which included Lennart Rohde and Karl Axel Pehrson, who were pioneers of concrete art in Sweden.

Later, his art developed into a more poetic classicism, through which he desired to combine modern materials with a classical theme. Elements of the Gothic style can often be seen in his art, and he endeavoured to try to suspend gravity in his constructions.

‘Ying-Yang’ (Yin-Yang) sculptures can be found in several Swedish cities, including Borås and Gothenburg. His starting point was the human body, and much of his inspiration comes from the Chinese philosophy of Taoism, in which Yin and Yang represent female-male (and the interplay between them), darkness-light and moon-sun. The original sculpture rusted and broke, but it has now been replaced with a stainless steel replica.

“Damn it, art is not born out of scarcity. It is born from abundance. It is born when brain, heart and all the senses overflow and act up. The blood rushes to the hands, which coordinate with all the knowledge they have acquired throughout their life – and forgotten that they knew. The whole body is synchronised to manifest an idea.” (Arne Jones 1970).

The artwork was purchased by the Municipality of Värnamo in 1973; replica 2013.