Ken Unsworth's suspended stone sculptures are some of his best-known works. In Suspended stone series – Stone circle II, river stones hang from a steel cone, creating the illusion of being held in a forcefield. This gravity-defying effect is enhanced by a mirror that reflects the underside of the stones, and the conical shape of the support on which they appear delicately balanced. 

With its cool, reflective materials and simplified geometry, Suspended stone series – Stone circle II bears many of the hallmarks of minimalist sculpture. However, the use of organic materials is associated with the style Unsworth credits as an influence, known as Arte Povera – literally, ‘poor art’. By removing stones from their natural environment and re-presenting them as buoyant sculptural forms, he defies our expectations of their weighty material properties.