Balanced Forms in Gunmetal on Cornish Granite 1956 - 1957

Curator: Marlow Moss’s "Balanced Forms in Gunmetal on Cornish Granite" presents a compelling dialogue between industrial material and the natural world. Editor: It has a stark, almost otherworldly quality. The contrast between the polished metal shapes and the rough granite is striking. Curator: Moss, working in the mid-20th century, was deeply engaged with abstraction and constructivism. The piece exemplifies a breakdown of traditional sculptural boundaries. She challenges the notion of sculpture as a solely representational object. Editor: The choice of materials, the gunmetal and locally sourced granite, speaks volumes about her process. Was it intended to be displayed within an institutional setting? Curator: Well, its presentation here at Tate St Ives underscores the museum’s role in defining artistic value and celebrating Moss’s innovative approach to form and material. Editor: Ultimately, this sculpture invites us to reconsider the relationships between industry, nature, and the cultural institutions that frame our understanding of both. Curator: Indeed, it pushes us to consider the social implications of material choices and the labor inherent in artistic production.