Untitled ellipsoid 1961

Editor: We're looking at Ruth Vollmer’s "Untitled ellipsoid" from 1961, captured in a monochrome photograph. It's striking; almost geological, but with a distinctly crafted feel. What social or historical context do you think is relevant when approaching this piece? Curator: That's a great starting point. Vollmer created this during a period of intense artistic and social upheaval. Post-war anxieties were simmering, yet there was also this optimistic push toward scientific and technological advancements. Geometric abstraction, like this ellipsoid, became a way to explore those new structures of knowledge and control. How might the material itself inform that reading? Editor: You mean the sculpture itself, not just the photograph? I suppose the rough texture contrasts with the perfect mathematical form it suggests... It almost feels at odds with itself. Curator: Exactly. And this tension is crucial. Abstract forms provided artists an opportunity to investigate a world increasingly mediated by industrial processes, while the handmade object retains something human and visceral. How do you see its presence in the world beyond the artist's studio? Editor: I guess it could be seen as a symbol of order attempting to contain chaos or the other way round; depending on how you approach it. I can see how her sculptures can echo some contemporary fears and obsessions within scientific rationalism. So the presentation and reception of Vollmer’s sculptures by galleries shaped its impact too, didn't it? Curator: Precisely. Galleries play an important role of giving cultural validation. Consider what is missing if all you had seen was a simple perfect sphere or an abstract rock. We owe a debt to gallerists, collectors and art historians for bringing artists to public notice and to help the art have societal resonance. Editor: That makes me think about all the structures, both visible and invisible, surrounding a work of art. Thanks, this was insightful! Curator: My pleasure! It's exciting to unpack these layers together.