Richard Long's Cornwall Slate Circles was originally created for an exhibition in Bordeaux in 1981. It consists of four concentric circles laid out on the floor, made up of a total of 74 slate stones. In order to determine the exact position of each stone, they were numbered on the underside. Long wanted to create a very special spatial impression.
The slate was sourced from Delabole Quarry in North Cornwall, one of the largest open-cast quarries in the UK. Richard Long personally selects the stones without having them specially cut for his work. The choice of these stones was motivated by both aesthetic and practical considerations: The flat stones are stable on the ground.
Long explains his working method as follows: I never make preparatory drawings, they are not necessary. I conceptualise the work, go to the quarry, choose the stones and make the work later and for the first time at the exhibition site.
The circles in Long's work are more than just geometric shapes. They are an expression of his respect for nature and reflect the mythical stone circles and places of worship that have existed in different cultures for thousands of years. The circles define not only the space they occupy, but also the space between them. In particular, the innermost space of the innermost circle has a special meaning and is often perceived as a place of peace and contemplation.
- Material & Technik
- Schiefer
- Museum
- Von der Heydt Museum
- Datierung
- 1981
- Inventarnummer
- P 0341