Alexander Calder, a major figure in modern art and inventor of the famous mobiles, transformed the way we perceive sculpture and space. But beyond his works, his reflections on life and creativity reveal an equally fascinating depth.
In this article, we invite you to discover 10 emblematic quotes from Calder, thoughts that inspire, amaze and reconnect to the essence of art. A dive into the poetic universe of this artist, to savor and share.
by Art Shortlist - November 26, 2024
1 - Above all, art should be fun.
2 - My fingers always seem busier than my mind.
3 - When everything goes well, a mobile is a piece of poetry that dances with the joy of living and surprise.
4 - To an engineer, good enough means perfect. With an artist, there's no such thing as perfect.
5 - Just as one can compose colors, or forms, so one can compose motions.
6 - Why must art be static? You look at an abstraction, sculptured or painted, an entirely exciting arrangement of planes, spheres, nuclei, entirely without meaning. It would be perfect, but it is always still. The next step in sculpture is motion.
7 - The universe is real, but you can't see it. You have to imagine it.
8 - To most people who look at a mobile, it's no more than a series of flat objects that move. To a few, though, it may be poetry.
9 - My whole theory about art is the disparity that exists between form, masses and movement.
10 - The sense of motion in painting and sculpture has long been considered as one of the primary elements of the composition.
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