FA103840 – Untitled, Alexander Calder Gouache Drawing, 1969

Part of the One Minute Wonders trail, a story written by one of our volunteers, inspired by objects on display.

By Ian Barnett

A spiral, a swirl, a whirl, a curl. Bold, striking and enticing. Did the artist start this 1969 graphic journey from the centre and work outwards I wonder?

Short monochrome lines perhaps signifying a period of austerity, then reinvigorating bursts of colour signifying the optimism of the 60’s.

American born Alexander Calder was an artist, engineer, and sculptor. Widely known for his 1930’s pioneering and breakthrough free floating mobiles and kinetic art.

Calder was commissioned to decorate the outside of two aeroplanes. Instead of a logo he painted his signature, insisting his work shouldn’t be boxed in or analysed.

1969 saw the first man on the moon. Was Calder encouraged by that sense of discovery, did his art reflect a new world or was this work just a frivolous indulgence?