“Boomerangs” is a sculpture and mobile created by the artist Alexander Calder in 1941, during the period characterized by Kinetic Art. This movement emphasized motion and the use of movable parts in artworks. As a mobile, this sculpture embodies the principles of Kinetic Art through its design, which allows it to move gently when air circulates around it.
Describing the artwork itself, “Boomerangs” showcases Calder’s iconic style of balancing colour and form to create a sense of dynamic harmony. The mobile consists of several elements suspended from arced wires, with chains linking them to create an elegant vertical drop. The shapes appear to have an abstract resemblance to boomerangs, hence the title. The artist has incorporated primary colors such as blue and red, alongside black and yellow elements, against the neutral background which allows the colors and shapes to stand out prominently. The thoughtful arrangement of the elements and their suspended state suggests the potential for gentle swaying movement, an essential characteristic of Calder’s mobiles. This play with gravity and balance makes the sculpture feel as if it’s capturing a moment of graceful equilibrium.
