Equivalent VIII

[1] Each of Andre's eight sculptures in the Equivalent series consists of a cuboidal arrangement of 120 firebricks.

[2] Constructed in 1966, Equivalent VIII was bought by the Tate Gallery in 1972 for $6,000 (then £2,297), half of the 1966 price.

However, in February 1976, when it was not on display, the piece drew much criticism in the press[3] because of the perception that taxpayers' money had been spent on paying an inflated price for a collection of bricks.

The bricks were also defaced by Peter Stowell-Phillips, a chef who covered them with blue food dye.

[1] The purchase has also been criticised for only buying one of the series of eight arrangements, thus removing the context of their 'equivalence' and for failing to otherwise explain the concept of the piece.