Takis
Takis was born in Athens, Greece in 1925 where he died in 2019.
A major figure in the post-war European artistic scene, Takis explored invisible forces and the omnipresence of energy in all things. The energy of magnetic fields is one of the foundations of his work, from the very beginning of his artistic experiments. From the end of the 1950s, Takis invented tele-magnetic sculptures, where everyday metallic objects defy gravity with the help of magnets, and float in space. An “intuitive savant”, Takis uses physical laws and technology in order to escape weightiness and “introduce a new, continuous, living force to sculpture”. Whilst Takis is considered to be one of the rare innovators in sculpture today, alongside Calder, Brancusi and Giacometti, the liberation of the forces of nature prevails over esthetic form in his work. Takis’ pieces, made up of industrial or mechanical parts, are situated at the crossroads between art, technology and science.
Numeruous retrospectives of his work have been held by international museums and institutions such as Tate Modern, London, UK (2019), Museu d’Art Contemporani, Barcelona, Spain (2020), Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France (2015), Menil Collection, Houston, USA (2015), Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul de Vence, France (2007), Jeu de Paume, Paris, France (1993), Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France (1981), Fondation des Treilles, le Var, France (1982), Musée d’Art Moderne de la ville de Paris (1980), Centre National d’Art Contemporain à Paris (1972).
His sculptures are visible in a number of public spaces in Paris and abroad. A monumental basin of Light Signals is visible on the esplanade of La Défense, next to Paris; the Aeolian Signals are outside the Unesco headquarters in Paris, an Aeolian Signal is installed in front of Athens’ National Pinacotheque, along with three 7-metre tall Aeolian Signals which are opposite the Benaki Contemporary Art Museum in Athens; his “Solar Energy” Signals are also visible in front of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels.
Takis’ works are part of different public and private collections all over the world: Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France; Tate, London, UK; Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York; Guggenheim Museum, New York; Menil Collection, Houston, USA; Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy among many others.
Works
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![T011-16.jpg]()
Takis
Signal
1976
©Annik Wetter -
![T09_5.jpg]()
Takis
Three Magnetic Disks n°5, 1968
Structure in iron, 3 electromagnetic disks, case in chipboard, mecanic structure integrated
122 x 34,5 x 7,5 cm -
![Takis Signal_T96_19]()
Takis
Signal, 1977
Iron, steel and bronze
120,5 x 110 x 22 cm -
![Takis-Aeolian-Signal]()
Takis
Aeolian Signal, 2006
Iron, steel, resin and lacquer
450 x 500 x 100 cm
Xippas Punta del Este -
![Signal-Eolien-geneve.jpg]()
Takis
Aeolian Signal, 2006
Iron and steel
Height: 413 cm
Stature: 600 cm -
![Takis Palais Royal 2011 04]()
Takis,
Installation view, Palais Royal Garden, Paris, France, 2011
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![T09_11.jpg]()
Takis
Télépeinture 1 (Mur Magnétique), 1972
Acrylic on canvas, metallic elements and magnets
175 x 130 x 15 cm -
![T03-22.jpg]()
Takis
Porte Magnétique, 2003
Aluminium, magnet and polystyrene
200 x 60 cm
Ball: 30 cm (diameter) -
![T02_44.jpg]()
Takis
Sculpture magnétique, 1978
Iron, magnet, metallic elements, porcelain -
![T09_7.jpg]()
Takis
Boule électro-magnétique, 1968
Plexiglas, electromagnet, ball in cork
Base: 60 cm (diameter)
Ball: 30 cm (diameter) -
![T09_6.jpg]()
Takis
Figure, 1954 - 2009
Bronze
178 x 26 x 22 cm -
![Installation Photograph of Takis Exhibition, Tate Modern, July 2019.]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Tate Modern, London, UK, July 2019.
Curated by Guy Brett
Photo: © Tate (Andrew Dunkley) -
![Takis Palais de Tokyo Paris 2015 23]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Magnetic Fields, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France, 2015 -
![Installation Photograph of Takis Exhibition, Tate Modern, July 2019.]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Tate Modern, London, UK, July 2019.
Curated by Guy Brett
Photo: © Tate (Andrew Dunkley) -
![Takis Palais de Tokyo Paris 2015 08]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Magnetic Fields, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France, 2015 -
![Installation Photograph of Takis Exhibition, Tate Modern, July 2019.]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Tate Modern, London, UK, July 2019.
Curated by Guy Brett
Photo: © Tate (Andrew Dunkley) -
![Installation Photograph of Takis Exhibition, Tate Modern, July 2019.]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Tate Modern, London, UK, July 2019.
Curated by Guy Brett
Photo: © Tate (Andrew Dunkley) -
![Installation Photograph of Takis Exhibition, Tate Modern, July 2019.]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Tate Modern, London, UK, July 2019.
Curated by Guy Brett
Photo: © Tate (Andrew Dunkley) -
![Installation Photograph of Takis Exhibition, Tate Modern, July 2019.]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Tate Modern, London, UK, July 2019.
Curated by Guy Brett
Photo: © Tate (Andrew Dunkley) -
![Installation Photograph of Takis Exhibition, Tate Modern, July 2019.]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Tate Modern, London, UK, July 2019.
Curated by Guy Brett
Photo: © Tate (Andrew Dunkley) -
![Takis Palais de Tokyo Paris 2015 11]()
Takis
Exhibition view, Magnetic Fields, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France, 2015
