TO PONDER: RUTH ASAWA

Jan 15

Ruth Asawa and some of her works. — Ruth Asawa, with some of her works in 1954. Nat Farbman/The LIFE Picture Collection. © 2025 Ruth Asawa Lanier, Inc.

“I AM ABLE TO TAKE A WIRE LINE AND GO INTO THE AIR AND DEFINE THE AIR WITHOUT STEALING IT FROM ANYONE. A LINE CAN ENCLOSE AND DEFINE SPACE WHILE LETTING THE AIR REMAIN AIR.”

—RUTH ASAWA

Ruth Asawa’s wire forms float between sculpture and shadow, grounded yet constantly shifting. Their openness reflects the attentive, fluid way in which she moved through the world. Asawa’s willingness to let form evolve rather than harden serves as a quiet reminder for the year ahead and our closing thought on January’s discussion on the Pursuit of Imperfection. Asawa’s art suggests that what looks “imperfect” is often just unfinished in the best way — still open, still becoming.

Be sure to catch Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective at the MoMA in NYC before it closes on February 7.

FOR MORE RECS LIKE THIS ONE, CHECK OUT THE REST OF VOL. 002:

Read Pulse Check – Vol. 002

SIXTH SENSEVOL. 002

Audrey Lee

TO PONDER: RUTH ASAWA

“I AM ABLE TO TAKE A WIRE LINE AND GO INTO THE AIR AND DEFINE THE AIR WITHOUT STEALING IT FROM ANYONE. A LINE CAN ENCLOSE AND DEFINE SPACE WHILE LETTING THE AIR REMAIN AIR.”—RUTH ASAWA

NAVIGATING THE IN-BETWEEN WITH QUETZAL MAUCCI

ME GUSTA COLLECTIVE ON NTS RADIO

“I AM ABLE TO TAKE A WIRE LINE AND GO INTO THE AIR AND DEFINE THE AIR WITHOUT STEALING IT FROM ANYONE. A LINE CAN ENCLOSE AND DEFINE SPACE WHILE LETTING THE AIR REMAIN AIR.”

—RUTH ASAWA