For Those Who Have Ears #2 1983

Richard Deacon made “For Those Who Have Ears #2” with laminated wood and metal. I can imagine him in the workshop, wrestling with the materials to coax these looping, curving forms. They're strangely organic, like bones or the ribcage of some fantastical creature. They give off a real sense of movement – rising, falling, twisting. And at the same time, the matte finish and the muted, earthy tones lend a feeling of stillness and calm. When I look at this sculpture I think of Eva Hesse, who also experimented with organic forms. I love how Deacon embraces the physicality of the material, pushing it to its limits to create something that feels both familiar and utterly strange. Artists are always talking to each other, right? Through materials, forms, and gestures. Deacon invites us to engage with the sculpture on our own terms. To bring our own experiences and associations to the work, to find our own meanings.