The Visual Tower (Marcel Broodthaers, 1966) Et oliemalerie, malet i hånden kun til dig

Identification of The Visual Tower

Created in 1966, The Visual Tower is a sculpture by the Belgian artist Marcel Broodthaers. This work emerged during a period when the artist was transitioning from his origins in poetry toward a more conceptual, object-based practice. It is a piece that invites a quiet, steady observation of its repetitive structure and its peculiar subject matter.

The sculpture is currently held within the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland. It exists as a physical interrogation of sight and the way we consume imagery, utilizing a series of stacked, standardized units to build its vertical form. Through this arrangement, Marcel Broodthaers explores the tension between the mundane nature of everyday objects and the intense, singular gaze of the human eye.

Composition and Visual Elements

The structure is built upon a logic of repetition, utilizing standardised, repeatable units to create its vertical form. It is composed of glass jars and wooden discs, stacked in a way that emphasizes a sense of accumulation. Within these jars, images of an eye, taken from a cosmetics advertisement, are placed to disrupt the utilitarian nature of the containers. This arrangement creates a rhythmic, serial quality that defines the tower's silhouette.

There is a specific, unsettling geometry to the way these elements are positioned. Because the eyes look out from every angle of the tower, the work lacks a traditional front or back view. You cannot find a side that remains unobserved. This creates a circularity of gaze where there is no escape from the eyes looking back at the viewer. The repetition of the gaze ensures that the sculpture remains a constant, watchful presence from every perspective.

Materials and Artistic Technique

The construction of this sculpture relies on the use of standardized, repeatable units. It is composed of glass jars and wooden discs, which are arranged to form a vertical structure. Within these jars, the artist has placed magazine illustrations. Rather than using a smile, as seen in some of his other explorations from this period, this specific work features the image of a wide-open eye taken from a cosmetics advertisement.

There is a deliberate reliance on the principle of repetition and accumulation. By stacking these common, everyday objects, the work achieves a sense of seriality. The choice of materials—glass, wood, and printed paper—reflects an interest in the aesthetics of the 1960s, utilizing the replicated imagery found in mass media. The arrangement ensures that the gaze of the eyes is visible from every angle, leaving no single front or back view.

Where to See This Work Today

This sculpture is part of the permanent collection at the National Galleries of Scotland. It was acquired for the institution in 1983 and is identified by the accession number GMA 2794. While it remains a significant part of their holdings, the work is currently held in storage rather than being on public display.

Because it is not currently exhibited, you may need to contact the galleries directly to inquire about any upcoming rotations or special viewing opportunities. It remains a quiet presence within their archives, preserved as a key example of the artist's conceptual shift during the mid-1960s.