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Continuum

Continuum is a public artwork by the American sculptor Perry, installed opposite the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. The sculpture is made up of eight bronze pieces painted black and placed on an elevated base. According to the artist, the work began as an exploration of the Möbius strip, created by joining the ends of a paper band after giving one end a 180-degree twist. Perry described the bronze center as symbolizing a black hole, with the edge suggesting the flow of matter through positive and negative space and back again in a continuum. A related work, Continuum II, is also by Perry and is installed in Singapore.

Continuum sculpture with dark metal looping ribbons forming circular openings.
Continuum, the Charles O. Perry sculpture at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, shown from the front.
February 2013 © · Public domain
Continuum sculpture with twisting black metal ribbons on a tall pedestal against an overcast sky.
Continuum by Charles O. Perry, shown on a pedestal with a modern building in the background.
February 2013 © · Public domain
Continuum, a tall abstract metal sculpture with looping ribbons on a granite pedestal outside a modern building.
Continuum stands at the entrance to a modern museum building, its dark looping forms rising from a granite base.
February 2008 © · Public domain
Continuum sculpture with dark, looping metal forms radiating from a central point against a cloudy sky.
Continuum by Charles O. Perry seen from below, with its dark metal forms silhouetted against the sky.
February 2013 © · Public domain
Continuum, a dark metal sculpture with upward-curving symmetrical loops on a pedestal against a stone wall, seen from below.
Continuum by Charles O. Perry, photographed from a low angle beneath the sculpture.
February 2013 © · Public domain

Identification

TitleContinuum
TypePublic artwork

Creator

ArtistPerry

Location and ownership

Related work locationMarina Square, Singapore
LocationIn front of the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C., United States
Related work date1986
Related workContinuum II
Related work artistPerry

Physical characteristics

Weight7,000 pounds
Number of pieces8
BaseRaised base
ColorPainted black

Materials

MaterialBronze
Base materialGranite

Historical context

ConceptInspired by an exploration of the Möbius strip, formed by joining the two ends of a paper strip after giving one end a 180-degree twist, creating a single edge

Iconography and meaning

SymbolismThe bronze center symbolizes a black hole
Symbolism of the edgeThe edge represents the flow of matter through the center from positive space to negative space and back again, in a continuum

History and restoration

RestorationThe sculpture and its granite base were restored; conservation work was carried out by a contractor
Restoration dateJuly 2010
Restoration purposeTo remove a green patina that had formed on the sculpture
Temporary removal locationTo the west end of the building
Base conditionThe granite base was repaired

Other

Image view / documentationPhotographs show the sculpture from below, from the front (S), from the side (SW), from the side (NW), from the back (N), and undergoing conservation in 2010.