Southern Cross 1970

This small sculpture, Southern Cross, was made by Cildo Meireles. Look closely and you will see that it depicts a tiny wooden cube, so small it can sit on the tip of someone’s finger. It’s a simple form, but its creation must have been a real labour of love. What really grabs me about this piece is its intense physicality. The image, or rather the sculpture itself, is about touch, scale, and the relationship between the monumental and the minute. I think of the way we hold something precious between our fingers. It’s a bit like looking at a minimalist sculpture, but one that is crafted with the hand rather than constructed from industrial materials. You might think of the work of Hélio Oiticica, another Brazilian artist who explores scale and perception in his work. Both artists challenge us to reconsider our relationship to the world around us, reminding us that art is not just about looking, but about experiencing and questioning. Art is always in dialogue; it is about sharing ideas and challenging perceptions.