Trois Pics 1967

Alexander Calder made "Trois Pics" from sheets of steel, cut and welded together. This isn’t clay or bronze, the materials of traditional sculpture. Instead, it is industrial material, a manufactured product associated with infrastructure, construction, and mass production. The dark, matte surface absorbs light, emphasizing the sculpture's form. Calder worked with foundries and fabricators. They used cutting torches to shape the steel, and welding to join the pieces together. It’s a heavy, laborious process, far removed from the artist's hand. The seams and joints are clearly visible, evidence of the making process. This brings steel production into an aesthetic register. It asks us to consider its inherent qualities, like strength, weight, and its capacity to define space. Calder challenges the hierarchy between art and industry. He invites us to appreciate the beauty and expressive potential found within utilitarian materials. "Trois Pics" is a testament to the transformative power of making, whether in a factory or a studio.