The sculptor Tony Cragg is best known for his exploration of different materials, notably manufactured objects and waste products. Initially a technician in a biochemistry laboratory, Cragg adopted scientific methods in his artwork. Grey Container is consistent with the body of works he produced during the 1980s, comprising a systematic arrangement of recognizable objects. Made of individual elements that are not evidently joined, Grey Container appears precariously balanced. Yet, compositionally, it reads like a piece of domestic furniture, such as a cupboard or shelving unit. Rows of green bottles are deployed as supports for a shelf-like structure incorporating boxes, a plank, and a brick. The surfaces of these disparate objects are covered in white wax crayon scribbles, which personalize these manufactured materials with the artist’s hand. According to Cragg, furniture is "an extension of human beings and reflects their activities." He is interested in the ability of domestic furniture to humanize our environment.\n\n Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2020
