Richard Serra's "Torqued Ellipse I" (1996) is a monumental work that exemplifies the artist's exploration of space, form, and the relationship between the viewer and the sculpture. Created from weatherproof steel, the sculpture measures 157 x 359 x 247 inches and is part of a series that pushed the boundaries of what is physically and perceptually possible in sculpture​ (Dia Art Foundation)​.

Serra's work is deeply rooted in the materiality of steel, a medium he chose for its industrial strength and ability to be shaped into massive, imposing forms that interact with their surroundings in profound ways. The "Torqued Ellipses" series, including "Torqued Ellipse I," are characterized by their large, curved plates of steel, which are bent and torqued to create dynamic, spiraling spaces that viewers can enter, walk around, and experience from within. These sculptures challenge traditional perceptions of space and form, inviting a physical and psychological engagement that is both disorienting and mesmerizing.

The concept behind Serra's torqued ellipses was described as breathtakingly simple: taking an elliptical volume of space and twisting it. This act of torquing alters the sculpture's relationship with the ground and the space around it, encouraging viewers to move and explore the sculpture not just as an object but as a place​ (Dia Art Foundation)​.

Serra's work also engages with philosophical and existential themes, exploring the balance between material and immaterial forces, a concept inspired by the writings of Simone Weil. Weil's idea that all material desires to rise and become immaterial, while all immaterial is pulled toward becoming material, mirrors the dynamic tension present in Serra's sculptures. This tension between rising and grounding, between making the heavy steel seem almost fluid, reflects a deeper exploration of equilibrium, entropy, and the human condition​ (Image Journal)​.

"Torqued Ellipse I" and the rest of the series mark a significant point in Serra's career, where his focus shifted from creating works that explored the material properties of metal to those that articulated volumes of space for the viewer to physically engage with. This shift represented a move away from what Serra saw as the "pictorial convention" of sculpture, towards an art form that occupies and transforms space in radical ways, challenging viewers to reconsider their relationship to the environment and the very nature of sculpture itself​ (Image Journal)​.

"Torqued Ellipse I" is not just a sculpture but a landmark in contemporary art, reflecting Richard Serra's deep engagement with the possibilities of steel and the spatial dynamics it can create. This work, like much of Serra's oeuvre, is an invitation to experience space and form in new and unexpected ways, challenging our perceptions and encouraging a deeper engagement with the material world.