Monument to the Revolution, Podgarić 1967

This monumental sculpture was created by Dusan Dzamonja. Look at the surface. You can see the texture of the concrete, the way it's been cast in layers. I bet Dzamonja was thinking about weight and how it feels to stand in the shadow of something huge and immovable. It’s as though this artwork has come into being through a process of heavy lifting, the material forced into shape under great pressure. I think the surface and the physicality of the medium are key to experiencing the emotional and intellectual resonances of the work. I can imagine the artist working on a smaller scale, testing out ideas in maquettes, before committing to this massive scale. It reminds me of the way sculptors like Serra and Hesse worked – playing with balance, gravity, and the industrial materials. Ultimately, artists are in conversation across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. I see this as a powerful expression, embracing ambiguity and inviting multiple interpretations.