ELEPHANT PUZZLE 1927

Alexander Calder, who made his name with wire sculpture and mobiles, also made this wooden puzzle in the form of an elephant. It’s painted in a single shade of green, which brings a sense of playful unity to the work. I love how the elephant is constructed from simple, interlocking pieces of wood. You can clearly see the grain of the wood, which adds texture and depth to the surface. The way the different parts fit together reminds me of a jigsaw, or maybe even a child’s building blocks. Notice the trunk – long and slightly curved, adding a sense of movement. It invites us to touch and rearrange the pieces, to engage with the sculpture in a physical way. It's this sense of interaction that brings the work to life. The elephant puzzle is like a 3D maquette, an artwork that retains the charm of the handmade. It reminds me of other artists like Sophie Taeuber-Arp, who also explored the intersection of art and design. Art isn't just about what it represents; it's about the process, the materials, and how we interact with it.