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Label Text Born in Bristol, England, in 1945, Long studied at West of England College of Art, Bristol, and at St. Martin's School of Art. Often, the artist uses elements of landscape, such as rocks or walking paths, to create a single line or circle, or a series of repeated shapes. Source: News, May June 1999.
Richard Long creates art that helps us relate to the patterns in nature. Here, the single, smooth, flat rock is a miniature of the larger circle of rocks itself. It suggests the beauty and symmetry of what is visible above the water, as well as below it. Since bodies of water often appear to the human eye as part of a circle, Long may be reminding us that the oceans encompass the Earth, which is itself a sphere. His quiet, unobtrusive work asks the viewer to look at the natural world carefully. He wants us to consider the impact of our presence, reminding us that man exists on the shoreline of a great circle of water.
DimensionsLarge (diameter): 12 ft. (3.7 m.)
Accession Number 1999.1
Classificationssculpture
CopyrightArtist is protected by ARS
Ocean Circle
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines