Balanced to perfection: Definitive works of Calder displayed at Leeum

In the above photo taken in 1954, Sculptor Alexander Calder holds his mobile “21 Feuilles Blanches.” Courtesy of Calder Foundation and Artists Rights Society

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Alexander Calder, the American sculptor famous for inventing moving mobiles, once described his creations as poetry that dance with the “joy of life and surprise.”

While Calder died in 1976, his words live again in the latest exhibition at Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, downtown Seoul, where art lovers can enjoy a rare opportunity to observe the definitive works of the prolific artist.

Simply titled “Calder,” the exhibition revisits how Calder invented kinetic art and how his influence reshaped contemporary art.

“Calder began his career in the 1920s, but his works still feel fresh to the contemporary public because of his strength as a pioneer and dedication to innovation that continued throughout his life,” said Tae Hyun-sun, Leeum’s chief curator.

“Small Feathers” (1931)

The exhibit features some of Calder’s earliest paintings and wire sculptures during a time when he began to explore the concept of mobiles. His portrayal of circus performers in “Circus Scene” (1929) is ingenious. While this is a stationary piece, Calder’s portrayal of acrobatic action through the curves and placement in wires provides a clear indication of where he was going.

The exhibition also shows Calder’s less-known interest in abstract art, inspired by Dutch master Piet Mondrian. After a visit to Mondrian’s atelier, Calder painted some 20 abstract paintings. The experience also influenced his sculptures, as evidently shown in “Croisiere” (1931), one of his first mobiles that portrays the Sun, the Moon and the Earth.

“Untitled,” a 1934 work standing in the center of Leeum’s Blackbox display space, is significant because it’s Calder’s first attempt to create a mobile for an outdoor display. His outdoor pieces got bigger later on, as seen in the huge “Grand Crinkly” (1971), which now stands outside Leeum.

The exhibit features Calder’s works in chronological order and neatly explains to visitors how Calder balanced his mobiles.

“Scarlet Digitals” (1945)

Calder’s earlier creations look more crude and unstable, like children’s toy mobiles, but as he began to gain knowledge and skills, his works became more dynamic and aesthetic.

His works show that he wasn’t driven by an interest in the laws of symmetry as much as a thirst for breaking down composition.

He first experimented with motorized sculptures, but these had to be symmetrical in order to be electrified. He found his creative freedom in the delicate job of finding the balance between mobile and stationary sculptures.

During the 1940s and 50s, Calder created mobiles almost instinctively, achieving the beauty of perfect balance. After moving to a rural atelier in Connecticut, the artist was more inspired by nature. “Eucalyptus” (1940) shows his attempt to portray the movement of nature.

“Calder did not copy shapes of eucalyptus leaves but just cut sheet metal as he wanted to find the center of gravity by hanging them with a thread first and then steel wires. He actually decided on the name after finishing the piece,” Tae said.

Other works at Leeum show Calder’s light-hearted side. His 1951 sculpture “Bird” is made from tin cans and wire and was made as a gift to his friend. “Louisa’s 43rd Birthday Present” (1948) is basically recreated miniatures of Calder’s mobiles in a cigar box.

In his later days, Calder mainly produced large public sculptures and Leeum exhibits several miniature replicas of the larger pieces. “La Grande Vistesse” (1969), resembling a gigantic piece of red cheese, is a replica of the sculpture currently installed at Grand Rapids, Mich. These large sculptures are composed of faces, not lines, but convey the sense of movement as other Calder mobiles do.

The Calder exhibition runs through Oct. 20. Admission is 8,000 won for adults and 5,000 won for students. English docent program is available at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information, visit www.leeum.org or call 02- 2014-6901.