Summary of Richard Serra | Torqued Ellipse IV (1998)
The video discusses Richard Serra's artistic process in creating the sculpture Torqued Ellipse IV. Serra was inspired by the lack of curved architecture in cities dominated by right angles. He wanted to create a form that would challenge perceptions and create a sense of continuity. The sculpture appears to change shape as viewers move around it, creating a dynamic experience. Serra's initial idea for the sculpture came from a misinterpretation of an ellipse in a church in Rome. He worked with aerospace engineers to develop the technology needed to bend steel into the twisted form he envisioned. The process took years to perfect, with challenges such as breaking a large steel plate during the initial attempts. The video highlights the innovative use of steel and the exploration of its potential by artists like Serra.
Creators/Contributors
Notable Quotes
— 00:31 — « Richard: I wanted to build something that would inform my experience. »
— 00:36 — « Richard: If you walk around the curve, you dont know how its going to round. It seems continuous and never-ending. »
— 00:49 — « Richard: You know what the form is. »
— 01:09 — « Richard: You can see that the ellipse on the floor is exactly the same as the ellipse in the sky. »
— 02:39 — « Richard: The technology has been developed to allow one to bend metal under heavy compression, and we used very large machines, first used to build battleships in the 2nd World War. »
Category
Art and Creativity