Richard Serra — Forged Steel

A survey of Richard Serra's sculpture in forged steel since 1977, made to accompany "Equal", his 2015 show at David Zwirner in New York.

Serra was already known for work in rubber, lead and steel when, in 1977, he came upon a large forge at a German steelworks and took up the material. Berlin Block (For Charlie Chaplin), from that year, was his first forged sculpture. Forging differs from casting: the steel is never melted and poured into a mould, but reshaped while still solid under great heat and pressure. He has since used forged blocks, rounds and lintels in many arrangements, and the book reads these works in the light of Serra's long concern with weight, balance and perception.

Richard Shiff contributes new writing and Serra adds two texts of his own, with photographs taken as the steel was being forged alongside the plates. The book was designed by McCall Associates and printed by Steidl in Göttingen.

Steidl and David Zwirner Books, 2016. 144 pages, clothbound hardback, 24 x 30 cm.