A Universe 1934

Here at MoMA, Alexander Calder assembled 'A Universe' using painted metal and wood. Look at the way Calder bends the wire into shapes that mimic planets in orbit. It's almost like a drawing in space! The materials themselves—metal and wood—have this industrial feel, but Calder coaxes them into something delicate and playful. I always admire how he lets the materials speak for themselves, revealing their inherent qualities. Take a closer look at the central, black, snaking form. Notice how it seems to defy gravity, arching and twisting with a sense of lightness. It anchors the whole piece, while also propelling the eye around the sculpture. Calder's use of color is also interesting—just a few pops of red and white against the black, creating a sense of balance and tension. Calder reminds me of Joan Miró, but instead of capturing his biomorphic forms on canvas, he sets them free into the air, like a circus of the cosmos!