Six Forms (2 x 3) 1968

Editor: Here we have Barbara Hepworth's "Six Forms (2 x 3)." It’s bronze, and the shapes are so intriguing, almost like building blocks. What do you make of the relationship between form and material here? Curator: The bronze is crucial; its industrial origins contrast with the hand-crafted feel. Hepworth's process is vital – consider the labour involved in shaping this dense material, the conscious decision to leave marks of production visible. How does this materiality affect your understanding of the piece? Editor: It makes me think about the physical effort and the weight of it all, almost a tension between the smooth surfaces and the rougher, worked areas. Curator: Exactly. That tension underscores Hepworth's challenge to traditional sculpture. She elevated the act of making, exposing the inherent qualities of the material itself and inviting viewers to contemplate labour. Editor: I never thought about it that way. It's more than just the shapes; it's about the process, the artist's hand, and even the history embedded in the bronze itself.