Z (The Speared fish) 1925

David Kakabadzé's sculpture, Z (The Speared Fish), is made from painted wood, metal, and glass, assembled into a strangely compelling form. Kakabadzé was active in the Constructivist movement, and like many of his colleagues, he wasn’t afraid to borrow techniques and materials from everyday life. The wood is carefully shaped, sanded, and painted, using techniques that could easily have been adapted from carpentry. It is an interesting contrast with the shiny, polished glass and metal parts. These might have been sourced from industrial production, though it is hard to tell. Looking closely, the materials don't only give shape to the fish. They also embody Kakabadzé's innovative spirit. It’s a move away from traditional sculptural materials like bronze or stone, and into a world of design and industry. This reflects Kakabadzé's commitment to modernism, where fine art and industrial production could be combined to create a new visual language. Ultimately, it’s the artist's unique approach to materiality and construction that makes the sculpture so interesting.