Big Parade 1976

Arman created this sculpture, "Big Parade," by welding trombones together into a dense, imposing form. The assemblage, with its golden hues and metallic textures, presents a striking visual experience, evoking a sense of organized chaos. The arrangement of instruments challenges our understanding of harmony and order. Instead of producing music, these trombones are congealed into a static block, their individual functions nullified. Arman's practice of accumulation invites us to consider how quantity transforms quality. Does this amassing of instruments amplify their cultural significance or diminish it? "Big Parade" reflects a broader engagement with consumer culture and the readymade object in art. The sculpture pushes us to reconsider the relationship between art, commodity, and meaning, suggesting that the value of an object is not inherent but is instead derived from its context and presentation. Through this transformation of musical instruments into a solid mass, Arman prompts a re-evaluation of cultural symbols and artistic expression.