Null Object 2012

Gustav Metzger made this "Null Object" from stone. The material has a pale, warm color and porous texture, which are inherent qualities of the stone itself, and what imbues the work with social or cultural significance. Metzger made the object into a cube. It is perfectly geometric, an ideal shape. Then he seems to have blown a hole in the side. The contrast between the rough texture of the material and the perfect geometric form creates a tension in the work, as do the hole in the side, which feels violent. When we consider the making, it is tempting to read the hole as a literal act of destruction: a commentary on a world beset by violence. The title "Null Object" gives us a clue; Metzger was interested in the aesthetics of nothingness. So, as you contemplate this rough block, consider the ways in which the artist used the material to convey meaning. He challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.