Artist
Eduardo Chillida (Spanish, 1924–2002)Spanish, 1924–2002
CultureSpanish
Titles
- Song of Strength
- Abesti Gogora I
Date1960–1961
PlaceSpain
MediumOak
Dimensions60 × 132 × 64 1/2 in. (152.4 × 335.3 × 163.8 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number62.5
Not on view
Explore Further
Department
Modern and Contemporary ArtObject Type
Eduardo Chillida initially studied architecture in Madrid, and the power and weight of architectural forms inspired much of his mature work, including his Song of Strength series, which is characterized by explosive rhythms and cantilevered elements. In 1966 the Museum commissioned a monumental variation of this work, carved in granite, which now can be seen in front of the Glassell School of Art.
ProvenanceThe artist; [Galerie Maeght, Paris, 1962]; purchased by MFAH, 1962.
Exhibition History“The Three Spaniards,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 6–March 4, 1962.
"Art Since 1950," Century 21 Exposition, Seattle’s World Fair, Seattle, April 21–September 4, 1962, cat. no. 111.
“Some Recent Accessions 1961-1963,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, May 4–June 2, 1963.
“Sculpture from the Museum of Modern Art, New York,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, December 13, 1963–April 23, 1964.
“Eduardo Chillida: Retrospective Exhibition,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, October 5–November 20, 1966, cat. no. 26.
"Eduardo Chillida Retrospective," Kunsthaus, Zurich, March 8–April 13, 1969; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, April 25–June 8, 1969, cat. no. 29.
“Chillida,” Hayward Gallery, London, November 12–December 21, 1969.
Cullen Center Bank and Trust, Houston, November 15, 1975–August 27, 1977. (LN:75.15).
“Pittsburgh International Series Exhibition,” Museum of Art, Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, October 26, 1979–January 6, 1980. (LN:79.12).
“Chillida,” Centro de Promocion de las Artes Plasticas y de Investigacion de Nuevas Formas Expresivas, Ministerio de Cultura, Madrid, June 13–September 30, 1980.
"A Century of Modern Sculpture 1882-1982," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, January 14, 1983–January 31, 1984.
"Modern and Contemporary Art: Spotlight on the Collection," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 7–August 27, 2000. [No catalogue].
"Art at Midcentury: Spotlight on the Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, April 13–September 3, 2001. [No catalogue].
"Eduardo Chillida," Jeu de Paume, Paris, June 19–September 16, 2001; The Kunsthalle Wurth, Schwabisch Hall, November 10, 2001–February 17, 2002; Museo de Arte Contemporaneo (MARCO), Monterrey, April 5–June 26, 2002. (LN:2001.24).
"Modern and Contemporary Masterworks from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, December 8, 2007–March 2, 2008. [No catalogue].
"Europe 1900-1975: Selections from the Museum's Collection," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 4, 2014–January 4, 2015. [No catalogue].
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Carved on side at end of low, long element: CHILLIDA (with stamp below). See photo under Media tab.
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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