Mark di Suvero
Nelly (1986)
Driveside
Mark di Suvero makes sculptures that are like bold, energetic drawings in space. The artist uses industrial machinery to cut, manipulate and join steel beams, making no attempt to hide joints, bolts or other methods of construction.
The resulting sculptures are reminiscent of Chinese characters drawn against the horizon; fluid and poetic. For di Suvero, they capture the essence of the people or events that inspire him.
The strong angles of Nelly contrast with the natural landscape at YSP. The beams lead the eye into the landscape or towards the sky. Through the day, Nelly casts changing shadows and appears sometimes to be an intense orange, at other times deep shades of brown.
Mark di Suvero was born in China to Italian parents serving in the diplomatic corps. The family moved to the US in 1940 where di Suvero studied art and philosophy. An eminent international artist, di Suvero also supports younger artists through his Socrates Sculpture Park in New York.
Further information:
YSP Essential Sculpture Guide entry for Mark di Suvero
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