10:34

“Even with my large pieces, I think that there has to be something that feels intuitive, as though each four-by-four has a decision that comes with it, that is based on instinct rather than some sort of a design that’s been made, to which I have to adhere. This uncertainty is an important part of the life of the piece.” — Ursula von Rydingsvard

In this video, sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard gives us a remarkable behind-the-scenes look at the process in her studio as she creates Mama, Your Legs (2000) – her only kinetic sculpture – for an exhibition at Galerie Lelong in 2000. She discusses the work while a team of dedicated (and highly praised) studio assistants saw, glue, hammer, and weld the unique, cacophonous sculpture.

From Galerie Lelong:

Over a remarkable four-decade-long career, Ursula von Rydingsvard has become one of the most influential sculptors working today. She is best known for creating large-scale, often monumental sculpture from cedar beams, which she painstakingly cuts, assembles, and laminates before finally rubbing a graphite patina into the work’s textured, faceted surfaces. Her signature abstract shapes refer to things in the real world — vessels, bowls, tools, and other objects — each revealing the mark of the human hand while also summoning natural forms and forces. In recent years, von Rydingsvard has explored other mediums in-depth, such as bronze, paper, and resin, continuing to expand upon her unique artistic vocabulary.