Curve 1969

Ronald Bladen, sometime in the 20th century, made Curve, a sculpture, and it’s all about the dance between form and space. What strikes me is the boldness of the shapes, how they carve out the air around them. I’m immediately drawn to how the curve sits in the room, a massive dark curve that seems to push back against the walls. The texture looks smooth, but you know that the material is heavy. Think about how the light plays on the surface, creating these subtle shifts in tone. It’s almost like Bladen is inviting us to walk around it, to experience it from different angles. It reminds me a little of Richard Serra’s work, that same interest in monumentality and how sculpture can transform a space. Ultimately, I think Curve is about questioning our perceptions, embracing ambiguity, and finding beauty in the unexpected.