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Architectural Study for a Wall

Published April 23, 2020

Niki Logis (American), Architectural Study for a Wall  (1986). Steel and stone. FSU MoFA 86.11a&b.

Architectural Study for a Wall was donated to FSU’s Museum of Fine Arts by collector Robert Friedus, a collector of contemporary sculpture and photographer. Created by contemporary artists Niki Logis, this piece is constructed entirely of steel and stone. The manner in which the steel sheets attach to the slab of stone create a dynamic relationship between the positive and negative space within the piece. Logis enhances this idea by restricting the metal attachment almost entirely to the upper-left quadrant of the stone slab. When approached from straight-on, as intended by the artist, the metal appears as lines across the stone slab. The apparent depth of this piece is altered once light is projected onto it, as it creates a series of shadows across the stone.

The combination of geometric structures suggests the outline of a shape that is not completed. Its simplified shapes are viewed as a unique and abstract expression of contemporary form. The simplicity of the two textures, the compacted metal and smooth stone, draws attention to the overall form of the work, and the complexities which lie therein. Niki Logis is most well-known for her participation in the Moscowitz Bayse Gallery in Los Angeles. This piece, created in the 1980’s is reminiscent of the post-minimalist aesthetic made popular in the 1970’s, through an emphasis on the strict use of texture and material.

Exhibition Notes:

Within the WJB gallery, Architectural Study for a Wall was intended to be the first installment of a three piece wall-mounted series, displayed on the left-hand wall. As one of the larger works on display, it was chosen as a flank for Bio RAD #2, in order to contrast sizes. It’s simple yet eye-catching form would have been accentuated against the intended white wall. Made up of steel sheets affixed to a slab of stone, this work displays a unique shadow when placed beneath light, adding an interesting element to its dimensions. Similarly, the simplified color scheme of this piece was intended to complement the vibrant and dynamic use of color and shade in Greener Conquest, placed on a pedestal directly across from it.

 

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