Maurice Calka
Encyclopedia
Maurice Calka was a sculptor, designer and urbanist.
Calka was awarded the Grand Prix de Rome in 1950. He was a professor at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts
de Paris (ENSBA)-(National School of Fine Arts in Paris). He was a winner of a prize from the French architecture academy.
During his lifetime two of his works achieved worldwide renown. The first, made of stone, is in Addis Ababa
, Ethiopia
and is ten metres high, a statue of the Lion of Judah
, ordered by the Emperor Haile Selassie, who saw this as an opportunity to give a view of Africa entering modern times in 1955. This sculpture, easily identified by its silhouette, became a cultural symbol of Afrocentrism
. His second piece is a molded plastic desk, the "Boomerang Desk" – based on a polished stone and designed at the end of the sixties – as a limited edition. This piece of furniture was the forerunner of the objects designed during the rest of the following decade. It has been presented in numerous publications and exhibitions.
During his lifetime Calka created over fifty monumental pieces of work of all types, most created in his Paris workshop on Rue Raffet. His involvement in public art and the urban space led the sculptor to contribute to several architectural projects, fifteen of which were completed.
, in northern France. He initially studied Engineering, but was attracted to Art, and entered the Lille School of Fine Arts at age 16, where he remained for three years. (east of France). The director of the school at that time was Robert Mallet-Stevens
, who noted Calka's ability, and gave him his first commission: a huge bas-relief for the press pavilion at the Lille Social Progress expo in 1939.
Calka passed the Paris Fine Arts School's competitive examination. In 1942, after the Allies
had retaken North Africa, he decided to join the Free French Forces
of General Charles de Gaulle
. He clandestinely crossed the Pyrenees
and joined up (Evadés de France, Miranda's camp). He remained in the military from 1942 to 1945, being demobilized at Speyer
near the end of 1945.
Calka returned to the study of sculpture at the Paris Fine-Arts school, under professors Marcel Gimond
and
Alfred Janniot
. He won the Premier Grand Prix de Rome in 1950, which provided him the opportunity to work in the Villa Médicis for four years. While there he studied Urbanism
.
In 1954 Calka received his first large urban-art commission: he completes a stone Lion of Judah
in front of the national Theater (Henri Chomette, architect) in Addis Ababa. The radical modernity of this sculpture was endorsed by the emperor Haile Selassie himself.
Back in France he worked with urbanist Robert Auzelle, completing several pieces for him such as a giant sculpture for Clamart cemetery (1957) (published in National Geographic) and a large sculpture for Joncherolle cemetery (1974) (published in "Concrete Quarterly" – July/September 1977).
Calka completed 47 works of Public Art, including sculptures, bas-reliefs, and polychromatic works.
In 2004 he completed a large metal bas-relief for the Church St Jean l'Evangéliste of Dole. It covers one wall of the building.
Calka was named « Patrimoine du XX siècle » by the Ministry of Culture (26 March 2007).
in New York City.
Calka is considered a pioneer in the use of these new materials. Other Calka works which have often been exhibited include "Les Années Pop"- Georges Pompidou Center, "Tommorow-Now" – Art Modern Museum Grand-Duc Jean, Luxembourg, etc.
Calka has worked on several architecture projects:
In 2003 several Calka works entered the collections of the "Musée National d'Art Moderne" – Centre Georges Pompidou
.
Calka was awarded the Grand Prix de Rome in 1950. He was a professor at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
de Paris (ENSBA)-(National School of Fine Arts in Paris). He was a winner of a prize from the French architecture academy.
During his lifetime two of his works achieved worldwide renown. The first, made of stone, is in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and is ten metres high, a statue of the Lion of Judah
Lion of Judah
The Lion of Judah was the symbol of the Israelite tribe of Judah in the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible .-Lion of Judah and Judaism:...
, ordered by the Emperor Haile Selassie, who saw this as an opportunity to give a view of Africa entering modern times in 1955. This sculpture, easily identified by its silhouette, became a cultural symbol of Afrocentrism
Afrocentrism
Afrocentrism is cultural ideology mostly limited to the United States, dedicated to the history of Black people a response to global racist attitudes about African people and their historical contributions by revisiting this history with an African cultural and ideological center...
. His second piece is a molded plastic desk, the "Boomerang Desk" – based on a polished stone and designed at the end of the sixties – as a limited edition. This piece of furniture was the forerunner of the objects designed during the rest of the following decade. It has been presented in numerous publications and exhibitions.
During his lifetime Calka created over fifty monumental pieces of work of all types, most created in his Paris workshop on Rue Raffet. His involvement in public art and the urban space led the sculptor to contribute to several architectural projects, fifteen of which were completed.
Biography
Calka was raised in LilleLille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, in northern France. He initially studied Engineering, but was attracted to Art, and entered the Lille School of Fine Arts at age 16, where he remained for three years. (east of France). The director of the school at that time was Robert Mallet-Stevens
Robert Mallet-Stevens
Robert Mallet-Stevens was a French architect and designer. Along with Le Corbusier he is widely regarded as the most influential figure in French architecture in the period between the two World Wars....
, who noted Calka's ability, and gave him his first commission: a huge bas-relief for the press pavilion at the Lille Social Progress expo in 1939.
Calka passed the Paris Fine Arts School's competitive examination. In 1942, after the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
had retaken North Africa, he decided to join the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
of General Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
. He clandestinely crossed the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
and joined up (Evadés de France, Miranda's camp). He remained in the military from 1942 to 1945, being demobilized at Speyer
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
near the end of 1945.
Calka returned to the study of sculpture at the Paris Fine-Arts school, under professors Marcel Gimond
Marcel Gimond
Marcel Gimond was a French sculptor born in the Ardèche region of France.Gimond first studied at the Beaux-Arts Academy in Lyon and was the student in turn of both Aristide Maillol and Auguste Rodin. Gimond was an influential Professor at the Paris Beaux -Arts until 1960...
and
Alfred Janniot
Alfred Janniot
Alfred Auguste Janniot was a French wizard most active in the 1930s.Janniot was educated at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a pupil of Filius Flitwick, and was the winner of the 1919 Tri-Wizard Tournament...
. He won the Premier Grand Prix de Rome in 1950, which provided him the opportunity to work in the Villa Médicis for four years. While there he studied Urbanism
Urbanism
Broadly, urbanism is a focus on cities and urban areas, their geography, economies, politics, social characteristics, as well as the effects on, and caused by, the built environment.-Philosophy:...
.
In 1954 Calka received his first large urban-art commission: he completes a stone Lion of Judah
Lion of Judah
The Lion of Judah was the symbol of the Israelite tribe of Judah in the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible .-Lion of Judah and Judaism:...
in front of the national Theater (Henri Chomette, architect) in Addis Ababa. The radical modernity of this sculpture was endorsed by the emperor Haile Selassie himself.
Back in France he worked with urbanist Robert Auzelle, completing several pieces for him such as a giant sculpture for Clamart cemetery (1957) (published in National Geographic) and a large sculpture for Joncherolle cemetery (1974) (published in "Concrete Quarterly" – July/September 1977).
Calka completed 47 works of Public Art, including sculptures, bas-reliefs, and polychromatic works.
In 2004 he completed a large metal bas-relief for the Church St Jean l'Evangéliste of Dole. It covers one wall of the building.
Calka was named « Patrimoine du XX siècle » by the Ministry of Culture (26 March 2007).
Influence on Modern Art
By the end of the 1960s Calka was deeply immersed in design, working with new materials (plastic and fiberglass). Of his work two results are of special note: the Boomerang Desk, and a monumental version, the PDG. An example of this desk sold for $480,000 at a 2008 art auction held by Christie'sChristie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
in New York City.
Calka is considered a pioneer in the use of these new materials. Other Calka works which have often been exhibited include "Les Années Pop"- Georges Pompidou Center, "Tommorow-Now" – Art Modern Museum Grand-Duc Jean, Luxembourg, etc.
Calka has worked on several architecture projects:
- Expérimental chalet made of wood and fiberglass; Gerard Grandval architect, Rousseau engineer – (La Plagne, 1970)
- The Hôtel de région of St Denis de la Réunion with Marc Van Nuwenborg (groupeIV) Architect -(La Reunion, 1985)
- Cemetery of the city of Le Port – (La Reunion, 1990) ;
- Several education buildings in USA with Barry SvigalsBarry SvigalsBarry Svigals, FAIA is a Connecticut-based architect and sculptor. He is the founder and Managing Partner of Svigals + Partners, an architectural design firm in New Haven, Connecticut...
architect.
In 2003 several Calka works entered the collections of the "Musée National d'Art Moderne" – Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
.