This is one of the masterpieces of the 1970s, a wildly underrated artwork. Larry Bell and I discussed it at length on Episode No. 12 of The Modern Art Notes Podcast. Download it here. See images of artworks Bell and I discussed.
Larry Bell, Iceberg and Its Shadow (two sperate installation views), 1974-75
In this piece, Bell furthers the idea of activating the viewer as a part of the artwork, rather than a static onlooker. The viewer becomes increasingly aware of his or her position in space through differences in scale, reflection, and orientation that the piece evokes as the viewer moves through it. Iceberg and Its Shadow is a site-specific installation; the two images above depict how the piece changes depending on the space it is located in. Bell effectively creates an environment through this piece, engulfing the viewer in ambiguity as one attempts to navigate through a piece that constantly thwarts expectation.
