Richard Serra's "One Ton Prop (House of Cards)," created in 1969 and later refabricated in 1986, is a seminal piece that embodies the essence of Serra's explorations with industrial materials and minimalist forms. This work consists of four lead antimony plates, each measuring 48 x 48 x 1 inches. Lead antimony is a combination of lead with an alloy to make it harder and more suitable for commercial applications like sheet metal, pipes, and castings. Serra's choice of this material reflects his early experiences working in steel mills and shipyards, where he first encountered such industrial materials (The Museum of Modern Art).
The structure of "One Ton Prop (House of Cards)" is reminiscent of a house of cards, as suggested by its title. The sculpture achieves stability through the mutual support of its components, with one edge of each lead sheet leaning against another, creating a precarious yet stable form. This method of assembly demonstrates Serra's interest in the physical properties of materials and their potential to convey tension and balance (The Museum of Modern Art) (David Zwirner).
The concept behind this piece ties back to Serra's influential "Verb List Compilation" from 1967-68, in which he listed actions such as "to prop" to explore the interaction between materials, actions, and gravity. "One Ton Prop (House of Cards)" exemplifies how Serra translated these verbs into physical forms, challenging traditional notions of sculpture and inviting viewers to engage with the work's spatial dynamics and the inherent qualities of its materials. Serra's work pushes the boundaries of minimalism by incorporating elements of process, materiality, and the viewer's experience of space (The Museum of Modern Art).
"One Ton Prop (House of Cards)" is significant not only for its innovative use of materials and form but also for how it represents a pivotal moment in Serra's career. It marks a shift from more conventional artistic expressions to a practice deeply rooted in the exploration of industrial materials and their sculptural possibilities. Through works like this, Serra has profoundly influenced the development of contemporary sculpture (The Museum of Modern Art) (David Zwirner).