Space construction VI 1923

Peter Laszlo Peri made this artwork, titled Space Construction VI, out of concrete. The rough texture of the concrete gives the geometric forms a tactile, almost architectural quality. Peri was part of a wave of artists experimenting with industrial materials, moving away from traditional fine art mediums like bronze or marble. Instead, he chose to work with something far more common, far more closely tied to everyday life. Concrete is poured into a mold, allowed to set, and then the mold is removed. This process, humble as it may seem, has imbued the artwork with a distinct social significance. The use of pre-cast concrete elements made his art accessible to a wider audience, and challenged conventional distinctions between art and craft. Peri’s choice of material and making reflected a desire to engage with the social and political realities of his time, questioning the traditional hierarchies of the art world.