Ugo Mulas "Circus Calder"

It is manifested in a large series of pictures by the great Italian photographer; they do not only show the works of the American sculptor, but also the artist at work, and Calder, the man. By means of photography, Mulas offers a key to the work of a man who is considered one of the most important twentieth century artists, and it also fuels a cycle that starts at Merano arte and leads back to it. As usual, the photographer's works did not critically document the works of another artist, but take their own aesthetic point of view; they distinguish themselves as works in their own right and are characterized by an own, independent style. Mulas was a careful observer of the art scene of his era. He mainly concentrated on the artists themselves and their works; he took pictures of them in their workshops, in front of their works, or at work. Circus Calder is a collection of diminutive sculptures out of metal wire that represent human figures and animals, and the sculptor put them into scene at improvised performances. The playful and fairytale-like sculptures were very inspiring for Mulas, as the selection of 36 gelatin silver prints on baryta paper show. The latter were taken in 1963/64 and made by the photographer himself (vintage). They grant insight into the work and the creative spirit of the great American master sculptor. The exhibition was developed in cooperation with Archivio Ugo Mulas (Milano), the municipal library of Merano, and ÓPLA! - the Merano archive of artists' books for children. We extend our thanks to Galleria Lia Rumma in Milano for its kind support. Catalogue: Edizioni Corraini The artist Irene Kubicek has designed  a series of small wire figurines as an homage to Alexander Calder's figures. Her circus is available at the gallery shop. Pictures: Courtesy Archivio Ugo Mulas - Galleria Lia Rumma Milano/Napoli