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Coupe de nuage
Coupe de nuage
Coupe de nuage

Coupe de nuage

Artist (Frankrike, 1887 - 1966)
Alternate Title
  • Molnskål
  • Cloud Bowl
Date1960
MediumAluminium
DimensionsHöjd 123 cm
ClassificationSculptures
Credit LinePurchase 1962
Countries
Object NumberNMSK 1805
The artwork is not on display
About the artworkJean Arp's Cloud Bowl lies like a cradle and hovers like a cloud. It is both feminine and amorphous/incorporeal.  The semi-matt aluminium surface, with visible traces of sanding or polishing tools, makes the form both hard and unreal. As a Dadaist and Surrealist Arp worked hard to break down accepted boundaries, like those between painting and sculpture, or figurative and non-figurative art. His "reliefs" were painted, sometimes perforated, wooden sheets glued in layers and could change their names in the most amazing way according to who asked. His own creative work comprised painting, sculpture and poetry.
"..Those who want to shoot down a cloud with an arrow will shoot in vain with their arrows. Many sculptors are such strange archers. When faced with a cloud, you have to drum something on a fiddle or fiddle something on a drum. Then it won´t be long before the cloud descends, wallowing with joy on the ground, and finally comes over to you and turns to stone. And so the sculptor has the most beautiful of sculptures completed at the drop of a hat…"
Description Replik av stenskulptur för universitetet i Bonn Selected exhibition history Ny presentation av samlingen (2000-2002) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Pontus Hulténs samling (2004) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Internationell Surrealism (1998) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Jean Arp (1962) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Önskemuseet (1963-1964) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Önskemuseet : the museum of our wishes : notre musée tel qu´il devrait être : museum unserer wünsche : [utställning i Moderna Museet, Stockholm : 26 december 1963 - 16 februari 1964] / ordnad av Moderna Museets VännerArp : [Moderna Museet : Stockholm 1962]