Bruce Nauman, Untitled (Crossbeams), 1986

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cast iron beams with grit blast finish

222 x 217 cm
87 6/16 x 85 6/16 in

‘Here, two cast iron bars (with grit-blast finish) transform along their lengths from square shaped at one end to circular in the centre to triangular at the opposite end. These...

‘Here, two cast iron bars (with grit-blast finish) transform along their lengths from square shaped at one end to circular in the centre to triangular at the opposite end. These are slipcased into two somewhat shorter tubes of the same changing shape. The two elements are then arranged in an X-configuration reminiscent of Nauman’s suspended sculptures with two crossed steel l-beams’ Citation from N. Benezra, Bruce Nauman: exhibition catalogue and catalogue raisonné, exh. cat., Minneapolis, Walker Art Center, 1994, p. 306.

Untitled (Crossbeams) is a sculpture by the American artist Bruce Nauman, that comprises two iron cast crossbeams creating a cross hovering over the floor.

Associated with the Conceptual art movement and considered a pioneer in the development of Post-Minimal, his work often embodies a condemnation of American society. While his artistic practice is characterised by its interdisciplinarity, sculpture remains a central element in Nauman's work. His work implementing different materials and techniques, addresses themes around the dichotomies of life/death, love/hate, pleasure/pain. Giving as much importance to the process used as to the message conveyed, Bruce Nauman questions the finality of his creations. Greater importance is thus given to the creative process, and as such challenging the spectator’s perception of the artwork. From his early works Bruce Nauman is interested in the raw and unfinished aspect of the material. An artistic vision that can be found in other artists such as Vito Acconci and Eva Hesse. The influential artist’s work has been included in the permanent collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Kunstmuseum in Basel, and many others. He has also participated in the 1977, 1985, 1987, 1991, and 1997 Whitney Biennales and in the Venice Biennale.

Provenance

Thomas Segal Gallery, Boston

Exhibitions

1986, MARUANI MERCIER, Brussels, October 2020 - January 2021

Literature

NN. Benezra, K. Halbreich, P. Schimmel, Bruce Nauman, Minneapolis 1987, no. 373 (another from the edition illustrated, p. 306).
D. Buchholz, International Index of Multiples, Tokyo 1993 (another from the edition, p. 143).
N. Benezra, et. al., Bruce Nauman: exhibition catalogue and catalogue raisonné, exh. cat., Minneapolis, Walker Art Center, 1994, no. 373 (another from the edition illustrated in colour, p. 306).
New York, Castelli Graphics and the Lorence - Monk Gallery, Bruce Nauman: Prints 1970-89, 1989 (another from the edition exhibited, illustrated, p. 128). This exhibition later travelled to Chicago, Donald Young Gallery.
New York, Brooke Alexander Editions, Selected Multiples, 1989, no. 175 (another from the edition exhibited, illustrated, unpaged).
New York, Hirschl and Adler Modern, Multiples, 1990 (another from the edition exhibited).
Berlin, Galerie Franck & Schulte, Bruce Nauman, 1996 (another from the edition exhibited).
Berlin, Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart, Bruce Nauman: Dream Passage, 2010, no. 28 (illustrated in colour, p.114).
Madrid, Galeria La Caja Negra, Bruce Nauman: Infrared Outtakes, Soft Ground Etchings, and Crossbeams, 2012 (another from the edition exhibited).

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Bruce Nauman

Provenance

Exhibitions

Literature