‘Calder/Hiquily: Balancing Act’ Exhibit to Open at Opera Gallery Dubai
The exhibition will explore the thematic intersections between the works of Alexander Calder and Philippe Hiquily, both of whom are renowned for their contributions to kinetic and sculptural art.
Opera Gallery Dubai is set to present ‘Balancing Act’, a new exhibition featuring works by American sculptor Alexander Calder and French artist Philippe Hiquily. Running from April 16th to May 4th, 2025, the exhibition will explore the thematic and formal intersections between the two artists, both of whom are widely recognised for their contributions to kinetic and sculptural art.
‘Balancing Act’ places the work of Calder and Hiquily in dialogue, highlighting shared artistic themes such as movement, balance, and anthropomorphic abstraction. While distinct in style and background, both artists employed playful and dynamic approaches to sculpture, engaging with the visual language of motion and spatial interaction.
Alexander Calder was a pioneering figure in kinetic sculpture, best known for inventing the mobile - a delicately balanced, moving structure. His mobiles and stabiles are characterised by geometric forms and bold primary colours, underscoring his interest in spontaneity, balance, and the relationship between form and space. Over the course of his career, Calder’s work was featured in major retrospectives, including at the Guggenheim Museum (1964), the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC (1998–1999), and a joint exhibition by Pace Gallery and the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome (2013–2014). Calder passed away in New York in 1976 at the age of 78.
Philippe Hiquily, known for his surreal metal sculptures, brought together elements of modernism, surrealism, and kinetic art. His work often integrates mechanical aesthetics, with a focus on movement and balance. Hiquily’s ‘Girouettes’ series is a defining part of his oeuvre, reflecting his interest with dynamic structures. His work is held in numerous public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Centre Pompidou (Paris), and the Hirshhorn Museum (Washington DC).
The exhibition underscores how both artists explore the poetry of movement through different materials and methods.
“We are delighted to bring together these two masters in Dubai—a city that itself balances tradition and innovation,” said Sylvain Gaillard, Director of Opera Gallery Dubai. “Balancing Act is not just a title—it is the very essence of the exhibition. It invites visitors to explore how movement, space, and gravity are negotiated in the work of two influential sculptors.”
The exhibition will include six of Calder’s works on paper, created using gouache and ink, such as Red Octopus (1971) and Fleurs (1970), alongside two of his mobiles: New Old Universe (1953) and Caged Stone on Yellow Stalk (1966). These will be exhibited alongside four of Hiquily’s Girouette mobiles, including Cheng San and La Reorneadora, as well as large-scale sculptures like Grande Mimi Patte en l’air (1987). The show will also feature functional artworks by Hiquily, such as Console (2009) and Miroir aux nénettes (2003).
