“Broken Obelisk” by Barnett Newman

“Broken Obelisk” by Barnett Newman is a sculpture that fuses the universal symbols of ancient Egypt, the pyramid, and the obelisk to reimagine the inverted obelisk shaft as a beam of light.

There is a tension between the upward sweep of the pyramid and the plunging, downward thrust of the obelisk.

At the top of the sculpture, the inverted obelisk is broken off jaggedly, an echo of broken ancient monuments. This broken, rough edge contrasts sharply with the symmetric geometry of the rest of the sculpture.

Our perception and association of pyramids and broken columns with ancient history has been reinterpreted into a current model of experience beyond the ordinary or physical level.

“Broken Obelisk” is a sculpture in the public art space that points to philosophical insight into our reality, and existence.

Art critic Robert Hughes wrote about the Broken Obelisk:

“Newman’s pursuit of the sublime lay less in nature than in culture. This enabled him to pick ancient, man-made forms and return them to pristine significance without a trace of piracy.”

“Broken Obelisk” was designed between 1963 and 1967 and is fabricated from three tons of Cor-Ten steel, which acquires a rust-colored patina. It seems to defy gravity.

This colossal steel sculpture is about twenty–five feet high and formed of two parts. The lower part is a pyramid of about ten feet tall. The giant obelisk extends up another fifteen feet.

The inverted obelisk has a pointed tip, which rests on the tip of the pyramid. The point at which the two parts meet is about two inches square, which is significantly small in comparison to the overall sculpture.

The two pieces are held together by a single metal pole, which runs through the inside of the pyramid and obelisk.

The “Broken Obelisk” sculpture first appeared in 1967 on display outside the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

At that time, the sculpture generated some controversy in Washington, as it appeared to be a reference to a broken upside-down Washington Monument at a time of civil unrest. In 1969, the sculpture removed.

Several “Broken Obelisk” sculptures are exhibited around the world:

On the terrace of the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery), in Berlin-Tiergarten (the image above).
In Red Square on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle.
In front of the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas, it is surrounded by a reflecting pool.
Part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Broken Obelisk in front of Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas.

Weathering Steel

Weathering steel, often referred to as Cor-Ten steel, is a steel alloy which was developed to eliminate the need for painting, and form a stable rust-like appearance after several years’ exposure to weather.

Its distinctive properties are corrosion resistance and tensile strength, and it is available as a strip-mill plate or in sheet forms.

The surface oxidation of weathering steel takes six months, but surface treatments can accelerate the oxidation to as little as a few hours.

Weathering steel is popularly used in outdoor sculptures for its rustic antique appearance. It is also used in bridges and other large structural applications.