Magdalena Abakanowicz: Every Tangle of Thread and Rope

The Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz gained recognition during the 1960s for her radical, large-scale textile sculptures known as Abkans. This show at Tate Modern (17 November–21 May 2023) brings together examples of these monumental woven fibre works alongside rarely shown sketches that illustrate the evolution of her practice. Highlights include painted textile works from the 1950s and suspended sculptures that make use of horsehair, hemp rope and sisal. The exhibition also considers how the artist’s early resistance to the Soviet regime in Poland is reflected in her installation works, which represented an act of defiance against the traditional art practices of Western Europe. An impressive display of 26 of these large-scale organic sculptures, each standing at nearly 5 metres tall, makes clear Abakanowicz’s interest in mythology and folklore. Find out more on the Tate’s website.

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Abakan Yellow (1970), Magdalena Abakanowicz. National Museum, Poznan. © Fundacja Marty Magdaleny Abakanowicz Kosmowskiej i Jana Kosmowskiego, Warsaw

Embryology (1978–80), Magdalena Abakanowicz. Tate. © Fundacja Marty Magdaleny Abakanowicz Kosmowskiej i Jana Kosmowskiego, Warsaw

Helena (1964–5), Magdalena Abakanowicz. Courtesy Marlborough Gallery, New York; © Fundacja Marty Magdaleny Abakanowicz Kosmowskiej i Jana Kosmowskiego, Warsaw