For Lucio Fontana, the spherical Concetto spaziale sculptures evoked the mysterious and unlimited dimensions of space. Their creviced, lunar-like topography also crosses boundaries in interpretation: simultaneously dense and weighty, hollow and potentially changeable

Originally made in clay between 1959 and 1960, 33 spheres were cast in bronze with the biggest measuring over 65 centimetres in diameter. Fontana chose this particular metal as it enabled him to set up an extraordinary contrast. The violent manipulation of material by wound-like splices and holes disturb, disrupt and fragment any sense of “wholeness”; the interior is exposed, violated even, so that views of inside and outside interconnect. The silver metallic surface of the present work adds another layer to its presence, increasing the play of light and reflection on its surface and accentuating the changing perceptions in relation to its environment.