Niki de Saint Phalle

Niki de Saint Phalle, née Catherine Marie-Agnes Fal de Saint Phalle (October 29 1930 - May 21, 2002) was a French sculptor, painter, and film maker.

Nanas

After the "Shooting paintings" came a period when she explored the various roles of woman. She made life size dolls of women, such as brides and mothers giving birth. They were usually dressed in white. They were primarily made of polyester with a wire framework. They were generally created from papier mâche.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Inspired by the pregnancy of her friend Clarisse Rivers, the wife of American artist Larry Rivers, she began to use her artwork to consider archetypal female figures in relation to her thinking on the position of women in society. Her artistic expression of the proverbial everywoman were named 'Nanas'. The first of these freely posed forms, made of papier-mâche, yarn and cloth are exhibited at the Alexander Iolas Gallery in Paris in September of 1965. For this show, Iolas published her first artist book that includes her handwritten words in combination with her drawings of 'Nanas'. Encouraged by Iolas, she started a highly productive output of graphic work that accompanied exhibitions that included posters, books and writings.

Related Topics:
September - 1965

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1966, she collaborated with fellow artist Jean Tinguely and Per Olof Ultlvedt on a large scale sculpture installation, "hon-en katedral". for Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden. The outer form of "hon" is a giant, reclining 'Nana', whose internal environment is entered from between her legs. The piece elicited immense public reaction in magazines and newspapers throughout the world. The interactive quality of the "hon" combined with a continued fascination with fantastic types of architecture insensifies her resolve to see her own architectural dreams realized. During the construction of the "hon-en katedral," she met Swiss artist Rico Weber, who became an important assistant and collaborator for both de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely. During the 1960s, she also designed decors and costumes for two theatrical productions - a ballet by Roland Petit, and an adaptation of the Aristophanes play "Lysistrata."

Related Topics:
Jean Tinguely - Per Olof Ultlvedt - Stockholm - Swiss - Rico Weber - Roland Petit - Aristophanes - Lysistrata

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~