We are now in autumn 2021, and the Galerie Gagosian in Paris has chosen to put forth that specific year of the artist's work. They chose to do so through a monumental sculpture erected at Place Vendôme as part of the Foire Internationale d'Art Contemporain (FIAC) that will accompany an exhibition at the gallery's newly opened show space, rue de Castiglione. Through this event, Gagosian aims at highlighting the artist's work at that time.
As it has been custom for a number of years now, the Place Vendôme, the symbol of luxury in Paris, is host to a gigantic sculpture. Before, Paul McCarthy (2014) or Yayoi Kusama (2019) could be seen on display. This time it is Calder's Flying Dragon made in 1975 that will be visible until January 2.
Alexander Calder, Flying Dragon, 1975 Sheet metal, bolts, and paint 30 feet × 56 feet × 21 feet 6 inches 9.1 × 17.1 × 6.6 m © 2021 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
The year that this piece was made is also the year that another monumental sculpture was presented at the Fourth Financial Center in Wichita, Kansas. At this time, another gargantuan project was the Jerusalem Stabile, was discussed between the mayor of the Israeli city and Calder and his wife Louisa who were visiting the country; it was installed in 1976.
In 1975, commissioned by Hervé Poulain, he painted the BMW Art Car, the first of the "art" series produced by the car company. Another collaboration was with the Braniff International Airways company that presented an airplane painted by the artist at the 31st International Aeronautical and Aerospace Salon in May 1975.
Alexander Calder’s Flying Dragon (1975) in production at Segré’s Iron Works, Waterbury, Connecticut, 1975 Artwork © 2021 Calder Foundation, New York/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: courtesy Calder Foundation, New York/Art Resource, New York
That same year, Alexander Calder started his collaboration with Sheila Hicks to produce eight great "banners" installed at the Center Square complex in Philadelphia. After celebrating his birthday on the 22 August in his workshop in Saché, France, the artist was the recipient of the United Nations Medal for peace.
This is only a fragment of what 1975 had to offer, a year marked by motion for Alexander Calder.
On November 11, a symbol of momentum and change in France, 45 years will have passed since the artist's disappearance; he died on November 11 1976 in New York.
Alexander Calder, Untitled,1975 Sheet metal and wire 31 1/2 x 59 x 26 inches 80 x 149.9 x 66 cm © 2021 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Parallel to this, at the Galerie historique parisienne, rue de Ponthieu, other facets of the artist's work, most notably mobiles and paintings, will be exhibited until December 18.
« CALDER 1975 and “Flying Dragon” » October 19, 2021–March 20, 2022 » — rue de Castiglione, Paris
Cover image: Alexander Calder’s Flying Dragon (1975) at Segré’s Iron Works, Waterbury, Connecticut, 1975. © 2021 Calder Foundation, New York/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Photo: courtesy Calder Foundation, New York/Art Resource, New
