“I paint in shapes” ~ Alexander Calder

The sculptures of Alexander Calder (1898-1976) take on a magnificent place in the history of Modern Art. Calder is famously known for his moving sculptures, a style christened as “mobiles” by Marcel Duchamp. If you don’t know what a Calder mobile is, think of the jangling toy that hangs above a baby cot, comprising of pieces that move at the slightest touch and you get the picture. Calder, you might say, was the pioneer of that enchanting toy. On a more serious note, sculpture for him was an avant-garde undertaking, a theatre of encounters. With an engineer’s eye (he was actually trained as an engineer), he created mobiles that seemed like mini universes of “planets” in motion, interacting with one another the way sculptures weren’t supposed to move. Mobiles became his trademark that secured him a hallowed place in art history. But he also painted, designed avant-garde jewellery pieces and installed monumental sculptures for public spaces. He and his long-time friend, the Spanish artist, Joan Miro, have captivated me with their free-form, whimsical and magical works for as long as I can remember. If, like me, you fall under the spell of this great artists’ works, then this post will speak to you – no words, just 100 photographs of the man and his art works. Enjoy!