Cornwall Circle

1991
(British, 1945-)
Diameter: 540 cm (212 5/8 in.)
© Richard Long, 2006 / Artists Right Society (ARS), New York Courtesy Haunch of Venison, London
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location: not on view

Download, Print and Share

Description

Richard Long's art is based on nature and his interaction with it. He has explained, "My work is real, not illusory or conceptual. It is about real stones, real time, real actions. I use the world as I find it." This haunting sculpture contains almost 200 previously cut, irregular pieces of slate arranged in a circle. Long obtained the stones from a quarry in the small village of Delabole in Cornwall, England, which has been a source of materials for his sculptures since the 1960s. The quarry's usual customers are builders, who use cut slate for various architectural purposes such as floors, roofs, and counter tops. In providing these products, the quarry cuts the stone, often leaving discarded pieces. Long then selects these castoffs to create his evocative works of art. In Cornwall Circle, each stone is unique in shape, size, and textural markings. However, the overall arrangement is a unified composition with geologic and natural references. For example, when viewed from a low vantage point, the stones suggest a mountain range.
Cornwall Circle

Cornwall Circle

1991

Richard Long

(British, 1945-)
England, 20th century

Videos

Installation of the Richard Long

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.