Lit LeWitt

1994

Neil Dawson

Accessible

Type

  • Sculpture

Medium

  • Aluminium

Dimensions

  • H667 x W667 x D667mm

Neil Dawson, ‘Lit LeWitt’ (1994), University of Canterbury, Ilam Campus, Ōtautahi Christchurch

Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, 2021

Description

Suspended aluminium mesh wire construction.

"'Lit LeWitt' is a tribute to minimalism, a straightforward construction with strong straight lines and simple geometry. It is not surprising then to discover that the work was inspired by minimalist American artist Sol LeWitt (1928-2007), who was for much of his career absorbed by the form of the cube.

In 'Lit LeWitt' Dawson has taken a very normal shape, not so different in form from an everyday cardboard box, and created something that evokes a very different response than one might have towards a cardboard box. By creating several boxes within the larger whole, Dawson gives a depth and corporeality to the work that makes it go from simply a box to a spatial presence that demands your attention.

Dawson’s sculptures have been described as being like “drawing in the air”. Working primarily with metal, carbon fibre and epoxy resin, he has experimented with a variety of means for constructing and shaping his creations. The result has been works which often create a sense of illusion, suggesting the space and depth of three dimensions where in fact there are not, and hinting at a robust strength while yet still seeming almost weightless."