Historical Texts

How can art be realized?

Abstraction-Creation, Art Non Figuratif, no. 1, 1932.

Alexander Calder

How can art be realized?

Out of volumes, motion, spaces bounded by the great space, the universe.

Out of different masses, tight, heavy, middling— indicated by variations of size or color—directional line—vectors which represent speeds, velocities, accelerations, forces, etc...—these directions making between them meaningful angles, and senses, together defining one big conclusion or many.

Spaces, volumes, suggested by the smallest means in contrast to their mass, or even including them, juxtaposed, pierced by vectors, crossed by speeds.

Nothing at all of this is fixed.

Each element able to move, to stir, to oscillate, to come and go in its relationships with the other elements in its universe.

It must not be just a fleeting moment but a physical bond between the varying events in life.

Not extractions,

But abstractions

Abstractions that are like nothing in life except in their manner of reacting.

Comment realiser l'art?

Des masses, des directions, des espaces limites dans le grand espace, l'univers.

Des masses differentes, legeres, lourds, moyennes, — indiquees par des variations de grandeur ou de couleur — des directions — vecteurs representant vitesses, velocites, accelerations, forces, etc...—ces directions faisant entre elles des angles significatifs, et des sens, definissant ensemble une grande resultante ou plusieurs.

Des espaces, des volumes, suggeres par les moindres moyens opposes a leur masse, ou meme les contenant, juxtaposes, perces par des vecteurs, traverses par des vitesses.

Rien de tout ca fixe.

Chaque element pouvant bouger, remuer, osciller, aller et venir dans ses relations avec les autres elements de son univers.

Que ce soit, non seulement un instant "momentane", mais une loi physique de variation entre les evenements de la vie.

Pas d'extrations,

Des abstractions

Des abstractions qui ne ressemblent a rien de la vie, sauf par leur maniere de reagir.