Stone Sculpture (Fugue II) 1956

Editor: This is Dame Barbara Hepworth's "Stone Sculpture (Fugue II)." It's undated, but its smooth, gray form is really striking. What's your take on how its scale and placement affect its meaning? Curator: Hepworth's sculptures often bridge the gap between nature and abstraction. The stone, its material presence, contrasts with the refined, almost musical curves. How do you see its public role? Editor: I guess its placement in a sculpture garden, like here, encourages interaction. It almost invites touch, making art more accessible. Curator: Precisely! Hepworth wanted her work to be integrated into the environment, challenging traditional notions of art as separate from everyday life. This democratizes art, placing it within reach, both physically and intellectually. I like that. Editor: I never thought about it that way. It changes everything. Curator: It certainly gives us a new lens.