Dancer 1969

This ‘Dancer’ sculpture was made by Joachim Bandau, but it is unclear exactly when. The piece uses a monochromatic palette of high gloss orange that gives it a striking, almost edible quality. It looks like the kind of colour and surface that a child would want to touch and maybe even taste. You can see how this colour works with the process of casting to create something that feels strangely organic despite its industrial execution. The sculpture is so interesting to me because you have what appear to be two distinct forms constructed of repeating modular elements, stacked on top of each other, almost like a surreal, cartoonish body. The glossy orange surface reflects light in such a way that it almost appears to be liquid. This tension between rigidity and fluidity is what makes the piece so conceptually engaging. I am reminded of Lynda Benglis’s poured latex sculptures, which similarly challenge the conventions of form and materiality. Both artists push the boundaries of their chosen media, inviting us to reconsider our assumptions about sculpture and the potential for art to surprise and delight.