Mobius 1965

Charles Hinman made this sculpture, Mobius, using painted canvas. Hinman's work epitomizes the shift towards abstraction that redefined the art world. In post-war America, the rise of abstraction was not merely an aesthetic choice but a statement. Artists moved away from traditional representation, challenging established norms and hierarchies within the art world. This sculpture questions what art is and what it can be. By moving painting into three dimensions, and by emphasizing simplicity, the artwork challenges the dominance of traditional painting and sculpture. Looking at the social conditions of the time, we see that abstract artists were critiquing the institutions of art by creating something new and original. They were not interested in following the rules of the past. Understanding art requires exploring these contexts. Looking into exhibition records and critical responses of the time deepens our understanding, showing art as a product of a specific cultural and institutional moment.