Revolving Torsion
Revolving Torsion is a 1972–73
The sculpture is the culmination of an idea that Gabo developed from the mid-1920s, to implement the ideas published in his 1920 Realistic Manifesto. He made a series of models and maquettes over the years, including his work of c. 1929 Model for "Torsion", a small 10 centimetres (3.9 in)-high Perspex model; his larger work Torsion from 1929–37, a 35 centimetres (14 in)-high model also in Perspex; and his 1960–64 Torsion (Project for a Fountain), an 80 centimetres (31 in)-high bronze maquette.
A commission was suggested by Sir
The work was installed in 1975 in the centre of a circular pool of water in a square garden at St Thomas' Hospital, with the River Thames to the west and Westminster Bridge Road to the north, and new hospital buildings to the east and south. It is a working fountain, with water emitted in streams from some of the sculpture's curved edges. It was originally designed to rotate slowly, once every 10 minutes, but the mechanism has not worked for several years.
References
- Revolving Torsion, Historic England
- Revolving Torsion, Fountain 1972–3, Tate Gallery
- Torsion (Project for a Fountain) 1960–4, Tate Gallery
- Model for Torsion c.1928, Tate Gallery
- Torsion 1928–36, Tate Gallery
