calatrava's show at glyptothek interprets ancient greek statues through a modern lens

glyptothek presents Santiago Calatrava’s sculptural works

Architect Santiago Calatrava is known largely for his advanced engineering solutions and dramatic visual statements, his legacy defined by monumental and iconic buildings and bridges. His accomplishments, however, extend beyond larger-than-life works of architecture. Throughout his career, he has created many works of sculpture — perhaps most familiar are the ‘Constellation’ series in Chicago and ‘The New York Times Capsule’ which contains objects documenting life on Earth during the 20th Century to be sealed until the year 3000.

Calatrava’s most recent body of artwork, including a series which has been in development for the past twenty years, are now displayed together as part of an exhibition at the Glyptothek Museum in Munich dubbed ‘Beyond Hellas: Santiago Calatrava in the Glyptothek.’ On view are fifty sculptures and paintings influenced by the dynamics of Ancient Greece which has served as a constant source in Calatrava’s architectural style, alongside the concepts of the human body and nature. The show opened to the public in June and will be on display until October 23, 2022. 

image courtesy of Renate Kühling

conceptual variations of ancient warriors

‘Beyond Hellas: Santiago Calatrava in the Glyptothek’ is the first exhibition dedicated solely to the Spanish and Swiss architect‘s works of sculpture and painting. The collection is displayed as part of a vibrant dialogue between the architecture of the 1830 temple-like Neoclassical building and the museum’s sculptures. 

The exhibition’s main focus is Calatrava’s new sculptural series, ‘The Aegineten,’ which includes a body of work that has been in development for the last thirty years. It consists of fourteen large-format wrought iron works, each perched atop a base of aged oak.

These sculptures are created to appear as modern, almost conceptual variations of the ancient warriors of Aegina’s Temple of Aphaia, drawing on the spirit of the circular dynamic compositions of the ancient warriors’ shields in the temple that have been updated through a contemporary lens. Using raw materials and elements, the architect was able to create artworks that are deeply connected to nature, movement, and world history. 

image courtesy Santiago Calatrava

image courtesy of Renate Kühling

image courtesy of Renate Kühling

image courtesy of Santiago Calatrava

image courtesy of Renate Kühling

image courtesy of Renate Kühling

image courtesy of Santiago Calatrava

image courtesy of Santiago Calatrava

project info: 

name: Beyond Hellas: Santiago Calatrava in the Glyptothek
architect: Santiago Calatrava
location: Glyptothek Museum, Munich, Germany