Dimensions: object: 616 x 241 x 190 mm
Copyright: The Work of Naum Gabo © Nina & Graham Williams/Tate, London 2014 | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Here we have Naum Gabo’s *Kinetic Construction (Standing Wave)*, a sculpture of about 616 x 241 x 190 mm currently residing in the Tate Collections. Editor: It’s strikingly ethereal, almost like a frozen stream of light. The upward spiral gives a definite sense of ascension, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. Gabo's interest lay in expressing the dynamism of space and time through industrial materials and geometric form. The sculpture's twisting form creates a dialogue between solid and void. Editor: The spiraling also suggests a subtle tension. Perhaps a visual metaphor for transformation, the eternal return. Curator: Precisely. Gabo aimed to reveal the underlying forces shaping our world, making visible the invisible. Editor: A beautiful aspiration, expertly realized here. The symbolism really invites prolonged meditation. Curator: Its elegant form serves as a reminder of the potential for art to reveal deeper truths. Editor: A truly dynamic piece, both visually and conceptually.
Comments
tate 4 months ago
⋮
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/gabo-kinetic-construction-standing-wave-t00827
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
tate 4 months ago
⋮
In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, when this work was made, materials were hard to come by. ‘It was the height of civil war, hunger and disorder in Russia. To find any part of machinery was next to impossible’, said Gabo. Originally made to demonstrate the principles of kinetics to his students, it reflects the artist’s belief in a sculpture in which space and time were active components. A strip of metal is made to oscillate so that a standing wave is set up. This movement in real time creates the illusion of volumetric space. Gallery label, November 2015
CollectMore like this
