MARUANI MERCIER

Alexander Calder and Joan Miró met in the creative milieu of 1920s Paris, amidst the artistic giants of Braque, Dalí, and Picasso. Despite the rise of fascism forcing them back to their home countries, Calder and Miró maintained contact, influencing and exhibiting together until Calder's death in 1976. Their shared fascination with the cosmos and illusory worlds propelled abstraction to new heights. This exhibition highlights their thematic commonalities, featuring weightless organic forms, a penchant for pure colors, and sinuous lines. These elements are especially evident in their works on paper, where both artists explore the stream of consciousness through dream-like compositions and celestial symbolism. Miró's imaginative approach resonates with Calder's ability to capture movement and transform space through his mobiles, stabiles, paintings, and drawings.

Calder, born in Lawnton, Pennsylvania in 1898, initially studied mechanical engineering before shifting his focus to art. His mobiles represented a groundbreaking departure from traditional static sculptures, incorporating suspended elements that balanced and moved with air currents, adding a dynamic, ever-changing dimension to art. Calder also created stabiles, large-scale stationary sculptures with geometric shapes. His work's defining aspect was his ability to imbue inanimate objects with a sense of vitality and movement. Calder received numerous accolades, including the Grand Prize for Sculpture at the 1952 Venice Biennale, the first time this award was given to a sculptor. Today, Calder's works are in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Tate Modern in London, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Calder passed away in New York in 1976.

Joan Miró, born in Barcelona, Spain in 1893, was influenced by the Fauves and Cubists early in his career, although his style continuously evolved. After moving to Paris, he became associated with Surrealism while maintaining a unique and personal approach. Miró embraced experimentation, pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms, resulting in a rich and varied body of work. His artistic contributions extended beyond the canvas to include theatre productions and costume design, and later public sculptures found in cities worldwide. Miró received the Grand Prize for Graphic Work at the 1954 Venice Biennale. His works are held in major institutions, including the Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, and the Tate Modern in London. Miró passed away in Palma, Spain in 1983.

A public opening for this exhibition will take place on August 5th. We extend our gratitude to the respective foundations and ADAGP, Paris, 2022, for their support and provision of images.

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