Linear Construction No. 2
- Artist: Naum Gabo
- Date: 1970–1
- Medium: Plastic and nylon threads
- Dimensions: object: 1130 x 600 x 590 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “Linear Construction No. 2” by Naum Gabo. The sculpture mixes clear plastic with nylon threads, a playful mix that catches light and makes the pieces look almost 3‑dimensional. It was born from Gabo's 1940s idea for a lobby in New York, where he’d imagined the form dancing above revolving doors. The version on display hangs on a base, giving it a static yet subtle sense of motion. Gabo made over twenty iterations, each tweaking the lobe shapes and thread paths. He chose a pure white finish for this piece, a tribute to art historian Herbert Read, whom he admired deeply. The result feels serene and almost weightless, inviting viewers to see its delicate geometry from every angle.
See it in person
Linear Construction No. 2 is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
