Bird’s Nest c. 1968

Curator: This is Alexander Calder’s "Bird’s Nest," created around 1968. It's an acrylic print that bursts with color and playful energy. Editor: My first impression is, it’s busy! All those circles and lines, the strong colors. It's almost overwhelmingly joyful. A real sensory experience. Curator: Exactly! Calder was deeply engaged with color theory and movement, and here, we see both at play. "Bird's Nest" also came about when there was great interest in pop art. The simplified shapes certainly speak to that moment in art history. Calder found fame as an artist during a time that demanded works to possess clean lines, and a polished finish. Editor: Do you think the title aligns with the abstract forms depicted in the work, though? It’s difficult to see an immediate parallel with 'Bird's Nest'. Maybe it's suggesting the chaos and vibrant energy of a nesting place, viewed from above? Curator: Perhaps, and it does evoke the post-war boom. I wonder if his intention was less literal, and more to create a feeling of natural energy and organic form through abstraction. The circles could be eggs, the lines branches... It’s a playground of visual cues. Editor: Speaking to cues, I cannot ignore the influence that Color Field painting may have had on him when constructing this. Although Calder does tend to exist within his own parameters, its hard to look at a piece like "Birds Nest" and not consider how it connects to other color-centered explorations occurring during the mid-late twentieth century. I appreciate it’s commitment to accessibility, and how this work really did pave the way for more of these experimental prints. Curator: You are so right to acknowledge this prints impact on society as a whole. To really experience this in its moment would've been fascinating. There is definitely something radical about the way it combines such bold abstraction with accessibility, reflecting a spirit of democratisation within the art world. Editor: Looking at it again, it truly captures the optimism and playful experimentation of the era. There is a raw kind of feeling here that is a lot of fun to analyze! Curator: Agreed, and "Bird’s Nest" remains a vibrant example of Calder's innovative spirit.