San Francisco-born Richard Serra produced a series of large black canvas drawings, specifically designed for the Serpentine Gallery’s spaces and produced on-site.
The shape of each drawing, made from thick layers of black paint-stick on Belgium linen and cut to size in situ, was determined by the specifics of floor, wall, corner or ceiling of the gallery.
The drawings therefore complemented and extended Serra’s preoccupation with site and context as demonstrated in his sculptural work. Although Serra had been making drawings for over 20 years, they formed a part of the artist’s oeuvre not previously seen in this country.