Alexander Calder
Following in the footsteps of his parents and grandfather, themselves famous artists, Alexander Calder has been immersed in an artistic universe since he was very young. As a child, he had his own workshop where he created jewelry for his little sister or seats for his wheeled car. At a very young age, he was already fascinated by movement, rotation and lightness.
Over the years, Calder has always kept the soul of a child, and even if he has created numerous sculptures, paintings, jewelry... he is mainly known for his mobiles, real aerial works that he creates with wire. iron and aluminum sheet.
He sculpts spheres, arcs, spirals, at the end of long rods, a whole levitating world filled with poetry. He also said:
“For most people looking at a mobile, it's just a series of flat objects that move. For a few, however, it may be poetry”
Everything is a game of balance, pendulums and counterweights which will make geometric objects dance in space. Calder's sculptures are often inspired by the marine world. We obviously think of the most famous:
“Lobster Trap and Fish Tail” (1939), “Steel Fish” (1934), “Flying Fish” (1957), or even the Fish Pull toy (1960)
“When everything goes well, a mobile is a poem that dances with the joy of life and its surprises”
Flying Fish (1957) – Alexander Calder
Fish Pull toy (1960) – Alexander Calder
Steel Fish (1934) – Alexander Calder
Lobster and Fish Tail (1939) – Alexander Calder
