Hostage

1981
Ciment-fondu
127 x 48 x 39 cm

One of Ng's concerns was the "psychology of spiritual bondage" which in most cases took the sculptural shape of tortured, tragic figures. Hostage
was created to commemorate the 444 days of suffering of the Americans
held in captivity by terrorists in Teheran. The barbed wire round the
head of the figure (reminiscent of Christ's crown of thorns) signifies the
physical and mental distress of the captive who nevertheless stands
erect and unbowed in spite of his predicament.