The Earth is an Angel 1987

Curator: Shirazeh Houshiary's sculpture, "The Earth is an Angel," really challenges the traditional notions of form and material. Editor: It feels weighty, almost oppressive, yet the curves give it a strange sense of lightness, like it could take flight. Curator: Houshiary's work often focuses on the labor involved in its making. It’s fascinating how she coaxes such fluidity from rigid materials, challenging that high art/craft divide. Editor: The rough edges and visible seams are what make it beautiful, this interplay between raw materials and the artist's shaping—a constant push and pull. Curator: Absolutely, the deliberate exposure of process becomes integral to its meaning. It asks us to consider the labor, the extraction, the consumption tied to these materials. Editor: I see it as a meditation on transformation, how something so grounded can aspire to something ethereal, how even the earth has the potential for grace. Curator: A fitting note to end on. The artist really makes you consider the connections between everything. Editor: Yes, a reminder that beauty can be found even in the most unexpected places.