Alexander Calder’s Éléments démontables (maquette) is a strikingly delicate hanging mobile, embodying an exquisite fragility that stands apart within Calder’s extensive oeuvre. Created in 1975 as a preparatory work for the monumental Éléments démontables, a large-scale public commission for the Ruffin Center in Wichita, Kansas, this maquette represents one of six Calder devised for the project. Of these, it was this particular design that was ultimately selected for the final installation, reflecting Calder’s mastery in translating intimate, small-scale models into grand, site-specific sculptures.

Calder’s practice of developing maquettes for his outdoor works dates back to 1936, marking a critical evolution in his working method. His maquettes, often rendered in sheet metal, served not only as practical templates for his larger constructions but also as independent works of art. Calder was meticulous in ensuring that only a limited number of maquettes would be translated into full-scale sculptures, preserving the integrity of the maquette as a unique artwork. In his studio, these maquettes were treated with the same reverence and attention as his final, monumental pieces, affirming their intrinsic value within his creative process.

Éléments démontables (maquette) is composed of eight celestial orbs, suspended in a serpentine arrangement from hair-thin wire stems. Each disc is perfectly balanced, diminishing in size as they cascade towards the ground, creating a rhythmic, harmonious composition. Suspended from the ceiling, this lyrical sculpture appears to float, its ethereal presence seemingly defying gravity. The transparency of the discs enhances the delicacy of the work, giving the orbs a spectral quality, as though they were ephemeral spirits caught in a moment of graceful movement. The work is responsive to the faintest breath of air, and, in true Calder fashion, it dances and oscillates in an effortless kinetic harmony, embodying the artist’s lifelong fascination with movement, balance, and the interaction of form with space.

Calder’s mobiles, of which Éléments démontables is a prime example, represent a groundbreaking departure from traditional sculpture. His invention of the mobile in the early 1930s revolutionised the art world, introducing the concept of sculptural forms that were not static but in perpetual motion. Calder initially began creating these suspended, moving sculptures after being inspired by the abstract work of artists such as Piet Mondrian and Joan Miró, blending their influence with his own engineering background. His early mobiles were simple constructions of wire and wood, but as his career progressed, Calder began to incorporate more complex materials such as sheet metal and developed intricate systems of balance that allowed for the precise movement of each element. The term “mobile” was coined by Marcel Duchamp in 1931, further cementing Calder's reputation as a pioneer of kinetic art. Calder’s mobiles defy conventional expectations of sculpture by inhabiting the air rather than the ground, playing with lightness, balance, and the notion of time, as they are in constant flux.

The maquette’s name, Éléments démontables (which translates as “removable elements”), reflects Calder’s affinity for modularity and the dismantling of traditional sculptural forms. The large-scale version installed at the Ruffin Center bears the same sinuous, flowing quality of the maquette, though its monumental scale contrasts with the maquette’s delicate structure. Calder’s ability to maintain the dynamism and balance of his works, regardless of their size, is a testament to his exceptional craftsmanship and understanding of spatial relationships.

The late phase of Calder’s career, during which Éléments démontables was created, was marked by an increasing number of large public commissions. These works, such as La Grande Vitesse (1969) in Michigan and Flamingo (1974) in Chicago, established Calder as one of the foremost sculptors of the 20th century, whose work would forever alter the landscape of public art. Despite the grandeur of these outdoor installations, Calder never lost sight of the intimacy and spontaneity found in his smaller works, as seen in the present maquette.

In Éléments démontables (maquette), Calder captures the essence of his artistic vision: a seamless integration of form, movement, and balance. The mobile stands as a reminder of Calder’s ability to infuse even the most delicate materials with a sense of life and motion. It is a testament to his skill in creating not just static objects but living, breathing works of art that engage both the viewer and the space they inhabit.