The classification provides four or more codes placed on four axis (A - formalism, B - matériality, C - involvement body/mind, D - communication). These codes are positionning the artist in the art history. A axis : FORMALISM When looking at the work, what type of formalisation first strikes the eye? Is it more abstract or more figurative, etc ? (on a scale from more "immaterial" to more "realist").A240 : Allusive inclusion of figures (or real objects ) in the abstract More or less realistic figurative elements, more or less important but not going beyond details in a predominantly abstract work (Fernand Léger, Jan Voss, Antoni Tàpies, W. De Kooning, the "Combine Paintings" of R.Rauschenberg, ...). A290 : Figures Imaginary Visionary, mediumistic, fantasy Dream monsters or creatures of the night are depicted with greater solidity and realism than in A280 (Matta, Max Ernst, Gustave Moreau, Paul Delvaux, Dado, Vito Tangiani, ... or the recent "Fictionists": Marko Mori, ...). A360 : Representative works "Expressionist" Outpouring of the turbulent or even violent inner world of an artist who, unlike with "Abstract Expressionism", does it with the many possible ways of depicting the Figure (from the original Expressionism to COBRA, from "Violent painting" to the "Néo-fauves", ...). Mixed The expression mixes techniques of Action painting with the use of matter (Emil Nolde, Asger Jorn, John Christoforou, O.Pelayo, Gérard Garouste, Georg Baselitz, Francesco Clemente, ...).
B axis : MATERIALITY How does the materiality of what is shown come across? (on a scale from more "immaterial" to more "real").B180 : Materiality in painting, but also with all other materials with the following possibilities: mixed materiality: structured / unstructured when a work is "structured" in its "lack of structure", and vice versa (repetition of forms, signs, matter ... Viallat, Toroni, Degottex, Hantaï,...). B210 : Materiality in painting, but also with all other materials with the following possibilities: Structured with materials predominant their thickness, composition or the way they are worked as structures (the way they are "built up") are here the most important aspect (Eugène Leroy, Bertrand Lavier, ...). B200 : Materiality in painting, but also with all other materials with the following possibilities: Structured with colours predominant with their intrinsic or symbolic strength, (Monory's "blues", G.Fromanger's "reds") historical or social meaning etc., and their structuring, the colours here are the most important (Jules Olitsky, Peter Halley, ...).
C axis : INVOLVEMENT BODY/ MIND With what body:mind ratio does the artist enter into his work? Classify from the most "intellectual" (e.g."Concept Art"...) to the most "physical" (e.g. "Body Art", ...).C120 : towards the intellectual side/ the essence of things inward looking work chiefly oriented towards: projective dreams, poetry, lyricism, psychedelic experience … to "project" an inner world (Henri Michaux, Wols, ...). C130 : towards the intellectual side/ the essence of things inward looking work chiefly oriented towards: l'introspective inner landscapes, emotions, feelings (Arpad Szenes, ...), serenity (Yves Klein's "Monochromes", ...), equilibrium ("mandalas" of Augustin Lesage or Adolf Wölfli, ...), memory (Boltenski "boxes", ...).
D axis : COMMUNICATION Does the artist have the deliberate intention to convey a message of any sort through his work? (classified from the most "mystical" to the most "worldly").D110 : via what is meant with various spiritual or less marked religious influences (from Barnett Newman to Mark Rothko, from Roman Opalka to Arnulf Rainer, ...). AGNEX www.agnexstudio.com |