Sterling Ruby's SCALES series marks a fascinating exploration within his extensive oeuvre, bridging the realms of sculpture, collage, and mobile art. Introduced around 2015, the series features an array of large-scale sculptures that intertwine modernist influences with Ruby's distinctive approach to form and materiality. Works like SCALE (5399) PAMP.CLOR., SCALE (5400) DC33, and SCALE (5416) MOB. AIR. RB. from 2015, illustrate Ruby's adeptness at combining various materials such as steel, paint, wood, and mixed media to create pieces that are both visually arresting and conceptually rich (Xavier Hufkens).
The SCALES series was notably presented as a singular, cohesive installation for the first time at Sterling Ruby's second solo exhibition at Sprüth Magers, Berlin, titled "The Jungle," which ran from September 17 to October 29, 2016. The exhibition underscored Ruby's ability to maintain a fine balance between chaos and order across a diverse range of media, including painting, sculpture, video, photography, ceramics, textiles, and clothing. The title "The Jungle" suggests a complex ecosystem of intertwined elements, much like the dense installation of mobiles designed to guide viewers through an immersive environment (My Art Guides) (Sprüth Magers).
These sculptures are reflective of Ruby's ongoing dialogue with the legacy of modernism, particularly the works of Alexander Calder, while also engaging with the aesthetics of Bauhaus and Suprematism. The series serves as a meditation on balance, equilibrium, and the laws that govern these principles, evoking the astrological symbol of Libra and challenging the viewer to consider notions of weight and counterweight. By incorporating elements from his studio—ranging from monochromatic shapes to industrial debris—Ruby adds a narrative layer to these objects, blurring the lines between art and detritus, and infusing the works with a contemplative, conceptual edge (My Art Guides).
More than merely an exploration of form and balance, the SCALES series delves into the juxtaposition of elegance and grit, using brightly colored shapes and raw, industrial materials to create a dialogue between the refined and the rough-hewn. Through this series, Ruby not only pays homage to modernist traditions but also inscribes his own mark on the continuum of contemporary sculpture, inviting viewers to navigate the intricate web of historical references and material investigations that characterize his practice (My Art Guides).
