COPPER, Cu

Ruth Asawa

Copper has many attractive properties, among them its high electrical and thermal conductivity. Above all, it is more easily beaten drawn into wire than other metals. This has enabled us to cross the world with electrical and communications cables. Another striking feature of copper is its unique colour. The oxidisation of copper in the earth’s damp atmosphere is also responsible for the iconic green colour of structures like the Statue of Liberty. It is therefore surprising, perhaps, that copper is not commonly seen in artwork. In Untitled S.158, however, oxidised copper wire is crocheted into hanging spheres, demonstrating how soft and malleable, and how beautiful this metal can be.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ruth Asawa (born January 24, 1926) is a Japanese American sculptor.