Untitled

In 1958, Nivola left the United States with the intention of visiting his hometown of Orani. There he developed a project involving several works, united by their ties to his native village and embodying its collective life. One aspect of the project involved an outdoor presentation of his sculptures. Ahead of the exhibition, Nivola created several concrete sculptures, given the title, Building Blocks series, of which this untitled work is included. It is an early example of Nivola’s use of the carved concrete technique, which involved working into a concrete block before it had fully cured. The work is composed of nine pieces, each of which weighs between 35 and 50 pounds. While Nivola’s sculptural works often include abstract details that serve as an indication of gender, this sculpture remains relatively ambiguous. The cluster of small square-shaped reliefs on the left-hand side of the work is a recurring feature in Nivola’s practice, a configuration that is reminiscent of a child cradled in the arms of an adult.