The artwork titled “A Nonsite (Franklin, New Jersey)” was created in 1968 by the artist Robert Smithson and belongs to the Minimalism art movement. The piece is an installation that reflects the genre’s characteristic engagement with simplicity and geometric form.
In this particular installation, a series of beige, angular containers are arranged sequentially on the floor, diminishing in size as they extend from the background to the foreground. Each container is filled with a collection of rocks, creating a deliberate interplay between natural and geometric elements. Mounted on the wall behind the installation, there is a framed artwork depicting a photographic image of a triangular formation that mirrors the shape of the arrangement on the floor. The contrast between the structured, industrial containers and the organic, raw nature of the rocks highlights Smithson’s exploration of the relationship between man-made environments and natural landscapes. The careful placement and repetition of forms embody the principles of Minimalism, emphasizing order, simplicity, and the purity of geometric shapes.
