Amongst the minimalist artworks at the National Gallery, Prop caught my attention, or at least after I read its description.

Upon first glance, it just looks like a pole someone propped up against a black, square sheet stuck up on the wall. What I learned, however, was that these two pieces aren’t as safely secured as I thought.

Prop is a sculpture by Richard Serra, comprising of a rolled up lead poll and a flat led sheet. Without any welding to keep them these two components in place, the rolled lead poll props the heavy lead sheet up against the wall, using only the forces of gravity, balance, and weight to prevent them from falling apart.

When we think of sculptures, we usually think of tall statues craved out of marble or cast in metal; solid, heavy materials that should be able to withstand the weight of a person leaning on it, without breaking or tipping over. For Prop, however, I worry both the lead sheet and pole would come crashing down if someone so much as stomps their foot too hard.

The sense of danger from this artwork immediately draws the audience’s attention the details of the sculpture — What material is it made of? How was it constructed? How heavy is it? How is it able to stay up? In turn, all these questions lead to a better appreciation of the artwork, allowing for us to experience sculptures in a new way, all while keeping us in suspense of its precariousness.