“MUCH PIERCED” is a sculpture by Alexander Calder, created in 1947. While the artwork is associated with the Expressionism movement, Calder is more traditionally known for his contributions to abstract sculpture and specifically for creating mobile and stabile sculptures. This particular artwork falls into the stabile sculpture genre, which refers to Calder’s non-moving sculptures, as opposed to his kinetic mobiles.
The artwork depicted appears to be constructed of sheet metal, with large, interconnected, organic shapes that hold both geometric and biomorphic qualities. The sculpture features pierced sections that create negative space and contribute to the overall abstract design. Through the careful balance and arrangement of forms, it conveys a sense of dynamic tension and visual interest, which is characteristic of Calder’s work. The color of the sculpture is a uniform matte black, allowing the focus to be solely on the silhouette and the interplay of forms and space. The sculpture seems to evoke the idea of movement and rhythm despite its static nature, which is a hallmark of Calder’s pioneering work in the realm of abstract sculpture.
