Suspended Hanging
Definition
This term refers to artworks that are designed to be suspended or hung in space, often creating a sense of weightlessness, movement, or interaction with the surrounding environment. Suspended or hanging artworks can range from delicate mobiles to large, immersive installations, and are often used to explore themes of balance, gravity, and spatial relationships.
History
The use of suspended or hanging elements in art has a long history, but it became particularly prominent in the 20th century with the work of artists like Alexander Calder, who invented the mobile, and Cornelia Parker, whose installations often involve suspended objects that create dynamic, thought-provoking environments.
Notable Examples
Alexander Calder
Lobster Trap and Fish Tail, 1939
Key Artists & Movements
Key figures include Alexander Calder, whose kinetic sculptures like Lobster Trap and Fish Tail are designed to move with the air currents, creating constantly changing compositions, and Cornelia Parker, whose installation Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded Viewsuspends the fragments of an exploded shed in mid-air, capturing a moment of destruction and transformation.
Techniques & Materials
Techniques involve suspending objects, materials, or entire installations from the ceiling or other supports, allowing them to interact with gravity, air currents, and the viewer's movement. Artists may use wires, ropes, or other hanging mechanisms to create works that appear to float or move in space. Suspended or hanging art often engages with the architecture of the space, creating a dialogue between the artwork and its environment. The sense of weightlessness or movement can evoke feelings of lightness, freedom, or tension, depending on the materials and concepts involved.
2940 Portland Dr.
Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6H5W8
Khalifa Blvd, Dubai, UAE
[email protected]
