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").A190 : Abstracts not constructed / informal mixed (between "Matter informalist", "Tachism" and "Action Painting"
(Willem De Kooning, Clifford Still, Antoni Tapiès, Bengt Lindström, Riopelle, Olivier Debré, ...). A220 : Abstracts with signs
The work as a whole remains abstract but includes (or consists entirely of): signs forming writing: writing with meaning
the "Letterists" (Isidore Isou, Maurice Lemaitre, …) to the "Conceptuals" (Joseph Kossuth, Roman Opalka, …); writing ranging from the most formalist to pure communication (Ben, On Kawara, Barbara Kruger, ...). A250 : Allusive a more inclusive, but lighter approach to the figurative
the figure is hinted at by the entangled shapes or from various abstract material elements (Mondrian, Kandinsky, Klee, the "footballers" by N. de Staël, ...), or by formal or coloured allusions ("Abtract Landscape Art"; Jean Bazaine, ...).
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,...).
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, ...). C190 : tending towards the corporeal / the senses the work as the result of an action gestural
the work as the result of a bodily movement, chiefly a hand movement: from Jackson Pollock's "Dripping" to Georges Mathieu's "Lyrical Abstraction", L. Fontana's "perforations" to the flayed figures of V. Vélickovic.
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").D115 : via what is meant in various narrations or symbolisms whatever they may be
allegorical, metaphorical (J. Beuys' "materials", ...), analytical (Mario Merz's "Fibonacci series", or those of Robert Filliou, ...), critical (from Henri Cueco to Hans Haacke or Guillaume Bijl, ...). D140 : via what is meaningful
based on the idea that work on what symbolizes forms an intentional message in itself (for example: Daniel Dezeuze's "Stretchers", etc., etc., ...). exploration and variations on a theme or on a single resource (object, material, ...)
to make it express the maximum (Cézanne's "Saintes Victoires", Andy Warhol's "Marylins" , Rutault's "methods", "bodies" by J. and D. Chapman, or by Katharina Fritsch, ...) or of a single resource (objects, materials, etc.: G. Titus Carmel's "bananas"; Miralda's "soldiers"; Damien Hirst's "cigarette butts" ...) in order to explore all its facets
BLANCHARD Annick
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