Alexander Calder
Following in the footsteps of his parents and grandfather, who were themselves famous artists, Alexander Calder was immersed in an artistic environment from a very young age. As a child, he had his own workshop where he created jewelry for his little sister or seats for his toy car. Very early on, he was already fascinated by movement, rotation, and lightness.
Over the years, Calder always kept a childlike spirit, and even though he created numerous sculptures, paintings, and jewelry, he is mainly known for his mobiles, true aerial works of art he created using wire and aluminum sheeting.
He sculpted spheres, arcs, spirals, at the ends of long rods, a whole world in levitation filled with poetry. He once said:
"For most people who look at a mobile, it's just a series of flat objects that move. For some, however, it may be poetry."
Everything is a play of balance, levers, and counterweights, making geometric objects dance through space. Calder's sculptures are often inspired by the marine world. One immediately thinks of the most famous ones:
“Lobster Trap and Fish Tail” (1939), “Steel Fish” (1934), “Flying Fish” (1957), or even the Fish Pull toy (1960)
"When everything works 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
