Dimensions: object: 1400 x 2890 x 1300 mm
Copyright: © Eva Rothschild | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This is Eva Rothschild's "Knock Knock," a striking sculpture at the Tate. Its angular, almost geometric form with dangling strands gives it such an intriguing presence. What do you make of this piece? Curator: I see a deliberate engagement with institutional space. The scale is consciously architectural, almost mimicking structural elements, yet it's undeniably an artwork. Do you think the title suggests a disruption or a playful interaction with the gallery's conventions? Editor: That’s interesting. The title does hint at interaction. So, is it challenging the traditional separation between art and the viewer? Curator: Precisely. Rothschild often plays with that boundary, inviting viewers to reconsider the accepted norms of the gallery and our relationship to the art it displays. A quiet revolution, perhaps? Editor: I never thought about it like that. It gives a whole new layer to appreciate.
Comments
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
A sculpture that plays on the relationship between abstraction and the figurative, Knock Knock combines many of Rothschild’s formal and thematic concerns. It comprises a floor-standing framework of thin steel rods that measures almost three metres in height. The straight sections of rod are welded to one another in a curving formation. A single rod extends upwards from the lower, branching part of the framework to create a shape that resembles a root or other organic form. The rods are covered in red and black leather strips: the upper part is red and the lower part is mainly black. These strips are tightly woven over the rods of the upper two thirds of the structure, and left loose over the lower third, trailing slightly where they reach the ground. The sculpture seems to be ‘magically floating’ according to the artist (Eva Rothschild in Conversation, Tate Britain, London, 6 October 2009). Its apparent precariousness suggests themes of instability and mutability to which Rothschild’s work often refers.
CollectMore like this
