“TRIPLE GONG” is an artwork by Alexander Calder created around 1948. As part of the Kinetic Art movement, Calder’s work can be described as a mobile, a type of moving sculpture that is carefully balanced and articulated to move in response to air currents or touch.
The artwork depicted features a series of curvilinear wire elements from which hang abstract shapes, including several discs that resemble gongs, hence the name “TRIPLE GONG.” The wires serve as the structural framework, allowing the components to achieve a delicate balance. The pieces are arranged in such a way that the entire sculpture has the potential to move gently when disturbed by air flow. The discs and other shapes affixed to the wires are kept in a dynamic yet harmonious composition. The use of color on some of the elements adds an additional visual interest to the sculpture, juxtaposed with the metallic sheen of the other parts, most likely made of sheet metal or similar material. Calder’s work often explores the interplay of form, movement, and balance, and this piece is a characteristic example of his innovative approach to sculpture.
