Book Sections - Chambers for a Memory Palace

Theme - Axes That Reach / Paths That Wander

Conditions - Rooms That Define / Space That Leaks Up Into

Richard Serra - Weight and Measure Q/A

1.    What were Richard Serra's goals for the installation?

Serra’s goal for the installation was to create an “absolute” space and allow space to retain its original boundary.  He wanted to create a lasting impression on viewers upon their own experience, incorporating the sculpture into their situation.

2.    Define the field Serra is referring to when he states that his sculptural elements need to create "enough tension within the field to hold the experience of presence in the place". How do you define "experience of presence"?

The field Serra is referring to is the visual field created by the sculpture within the space, and the relationship between them.  “Experience of presence” is what a view experiences in the field created by both space and sculpture, not just the sculpture.

3.    How do the columns, pedestal condition, octagonal space and vertical axis challenge Serra?

Serra didn’t want these elements to be seen as objects, yet the octagonal space was self-referential and had natural gravity.  Columns were challenging due to the experience they create themselves, and the pedestal condition was challenging in that everything within the pedestal condition had to be precisely measured and positioned to not distinguish or elevate elements that could diminish the experience of space.  The vertical axis was another challenge due to the different ceiling height elevations.

4.    What is effective in terms of the shape, scale and number of the two square elements in the Duveen Galleries?

Taking the context of room and directionality of axis into account, regardless of vertical axis, the two square elements were ideal because they could be localized and were referential as opposed to other shapes such as circle which is not a pure space and whose curves modify existing space.  Full scale and repeated measuring were used because the condition created from them allowed Serra to keep accuracy, thus not having to conceptualize elements.  

5.    Describe the differences and similarities between Barnett Newman's and Richard Serra's work.

While both works deal with the relationship between space and objects, Barnett Newman uses delineation of line between solid fields, zips which define spatial structure.  Serra, on the other hand, uses space to define spatial structure.