John Chamberlain, Bees Knees

1988

John Chamberlain is best known for contorted monolith sculptures assembled from automobile sheet metal. Utilizing junkyard castoffs, Bees Knees is emblematic of postwar experiments with industrial materials. The work’s formal muscularity reflects a brute approach to sculptural form. This sense of forcefulness is underscored by the play between different finishes. Shiny, satin, matte, and scratched areas reflect light in different ways, drawing attention to the work’s energetic shape.