“Phases of the Moon” is a sculpture created by the artist Maya Lin in 1988, utilizing wax as its medium. It is part of the Post-Minimalism art movement. The artwork, comprised of a series of circular forms, represents the various phases of the moon and is an example of the sculptural genre.
The sculpture features a series of eight circular wax forms, each representing a different phase of the moon. These forms are mounted in a linear sequence on a wall, capturing the subtle shifts in the moon’s appearance from full to waning crescents. The simplicity and minimal nature of the work are in alignment with the Post-Minimalism movement, focusing on presenting straightforward forms with a deeper conceptual narrative. The texture and translucency of the wax add a layer of delicacy and ethereal quality, emphasizing the changing light and shadow that define the lunar phases. The arrangement of the circles evokes a sense of time and movement, inviting the viewer to contemplate the natural cycle of the moon.
