Fred Sandback
Often producing a piece from the very yarn he kept in his pocket, it was as if Fred Sandback produced art out of thin air. Beguilingly simple while simultaneously alien, his string structures continue to command optical, physical and perceptual interaction with their audiences. After majoring in philosophy at Yale in 1966, Sandback pursued an MFA at the Yale School of Art. Drawing on memories of his antique dealer uncle weaving cane chairs, Sandback strung banjos and dulcimers in his free time – at one point even considering creating a career out of the pastime. His fascination with string and cord amused his teachers, enthralling one in particular, Donald Judd. Sandback produced his first definitive string structure in 1966, transforming his hobby into the seminal theme of his mature work. From 1966 to 2003, the year he died, the artist would use thread to describe a potentially limitless volume, usually hidden inside traditional sculptures, now only subjected to the angles from which one could view his creations.
Untitled by Fred Sandback features delicate strands of light brown acrylic yarn stretched across space, creating the illusion of a solid geometric form from virtually nothing. The work exemplifies Sandback's lifelong fascination with string and cord, transforming a humble material into a powerful meditation on volume, line, and perception. Rooted in his philosophical training at Yale and inspired by his early experiences stringing musical instruments, this piece invites viewers to engage both optically and physically with the invisible planes suggested by the yarn's precise placement.
- Medium
- light brown acrylic yarn
- Spotted At
- Auction House · Phillips
🔨 Auction Lot
20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale
June 27, 2016
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