A Line in Bolivia - Kicked Stones (2 Versions)
- Artist: Richard Long CBE
- Date: 1981
- Medium: Photograph, black and white, on board
- Dimensions: support: 1210 x 883 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Line in Bolivia - Kicked Stones (2 Versions)" by Richard Long. In 1981, the British artist captured a moment on the Bolivian Altiplano where he arranged loose stones into a tidy rectangle simply by kicking them into place. Long’s practice is all about imposing structure on the random: he turns natural objects into lines or circles, creating a subtle dialogue between order and chance. Here the black‑and‑white photo shows the stones in a clean, almost geometric layout, yet the method—kicking—reminds us that even a carefully planned arrangement can feel spontaneous. The piece exists in two main photographic versions, one taken from a vertical perspective and the other from a horizontal view, each framing the line differently. It’s a striking example of how Long turns the landscape into a playground for the eye, turning a simple act into a visual exploration of form, texture and the limits of control.
See it in person
A Line in Bolivia - Kicked Stones (2 Versions) is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
