Sole 1973

Editor: This striking bronze sculpture, "Sole" by Gio Pomodoro, dates to 1973. Its geometric shapes and highly polished surface give it such a futuristic feel. What’s your take on this work? Curator: The shine speaks volumes about the artist's labor, doesn’t it? Each surface has been carefully worked, demanding hours of polishing to create that reflectivity. What kind of industrial processes do you think influenced Pomodoro? Editor: Possibly the rise of mass production and highly engineered metal objects in the post-war period? Curator: Precisely. Pomodoro seems fascinated by the language of industry, using metal, a material traditionally associated with labor, and transforming it into an object of aesthetic contemplation. It’s a commentary, I think, on how industrial processes shaped the culture of making in that era, almost an idol to material advancement. Do you agree it has a modern, even industrial feel to it? Editor: I do. Its almost like looking at the polished engine block of some strange futuristic vehicle! So, by elevating this material through careful crafting and then putting it in an art gallery, he’s questioning what separates art from industry? Curator: Exactly! He disrupts those boundaries by insisting on the value of labor and materiality within a sphere that often overlooks them. Considering that its abstract, this speaks a lot of cultural language of making during that time period, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: It certainly makes you think about how industrial methods and available materials shape our view of what art *can* be. Thank you! Curator: It’s fascinating to consider how the means of production leave their mark on our aesthetic sensibilities. A conversation worth having!