Le Xi Reflects on Richard Serra’s Equal at MoMA

Richard Serra is the artist who most powerfully shows how art can hold space, time, and attention. He had a lasting influence on how I came to focus on the idea of “being in-between”—a recurring theme in my work.

Richard Serra’s Equal installation at MoMA—eight stacked forged steel blocks evoking weight, space, and silent presence.

Experiencing his Equal again at MoMA brought back memories of hearing him speak at the Met over ten years ago. That moment left a deep impression on me.

Richard Serra’s Equal installation at MoMA—eight stacked forged steel blocks evoking weight, space, and silent presence.

I think of him as a post-minimalist—his focus isn’t on images, but on weight, space, and those invisible actions shaped by gravity. His works sharpen our awareness of the environment around us.

Richard Serra’s Equal installation at MoMA—eight stacked forged steel blocks evoking weight, space, and silent presence.

I think of him as a post-minimalist—his focus isn’t on images, but on weight, space, and those invisible actions shaped by gravity. His works sharpen our awareness of the environment around us.

Richard Serra’s Equal installation at MoMA—eight stacked forged steel blocks evoking weight, space, and silent presence.

Equal is made of eight forged steel boxes, stacked in pairs. Each one weighs 40 tons. Together, they stand silent and strong on the second floor of MoMA, quietly transforming the space.