Linear Form (probably part of the model for the First Bijenkorf Project) c. 1954

Editor: Here we have Naum Gabo's "Linear Form," probably a model for the Bijenkorf Project, its date unknown, housed at the Tate. It's made of plastic and thread. What strikes me is the tension between the rigid plastic and the delicate, almost chaotic, thread. What do you see? Curator: I see a challenge to traditional sculptural materials and their associated class connotations. Gabo elevates industrial materials. The plastic, a product of mass manufacturing, is juxtaposed with the thread, a common material but here meticulously arranged. Consider the labour involved in precisely placing each strand. Editor: So, you're saying the value lies in how he transforms these everyday items? Curator: Precisely! It's not about inherent worth, but the artist's manipulation and the social implications of using these materials. It makes me rethink assumptions about value and labour. Editor: That's a really interesting way to consider it. Thanks!