Model for ‘Constructed Torso’ Possibly 1917 - 1981

Editor: This is Naum Gabo's 'Model for 'Constructed Torso''. It's made of what appears to be cardboard. The angularity and the material give it a surprisingly raw, almost industrial feel. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Gabo's Constructivism sought to redefine sculpture's role in society. Consider the socio-political context: post-revolutionary Russia where art was meant to serve the proletariat. Does this model, with its geometric abstraction, fulfill that mandate, or does it propose a new aesthetic entirely? Editor: It's interesting to consider how abstraction relates to accessibility. It feels complex, maybe even inaccessible, despite its simple material. Curator: Precisely! And how does the 'torso' form, traditionally associated with classical ideals, function within this revolutionary aesthetic? Is it a rejection, a reinterpretation, or something else? Editor: I hadn't considered the classical reference. That adds a whole layer of meaning. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It's a reminder that even radical art engages with, and reinterprets, its predecessors in complex ways.