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").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, ...). A400 : Individualist Art (Art Singulier) Art brut
from art without cultural references (Dubuffet, Adolf Wölfli, …) to turning cast-off objects into art (Chomo, Maisonneuve, ...).
B axis : MATERIALITY
How does the materiality of what is shown come across?
(on a scale from more "immaterial" to more "real").B240 : materials or objects in "assemblages", collages/decollages, or installations
meaningful or meaningless objects (or even offcasts of society) when they are assembled with a new spirit:
- to make something aesthetic, as with the "New realists" (Arman, Spoerri, César, …); the "Affichists" (Jiri Kolar, M. Rotella, R. Hains, ...)
- in parody as with the "Simulationnistes" (Haïm Steinbach, ...)
- in many and various other "Installations" as with well known artists (Christian Boltanski, Edward Kienholz, ...) and above all with many artists of the new generation.
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", ...).C170 : tending towards the corporeal / the senses via expression with
- in a literal manner (Vladimir Velickovic, sculptures by Barry Flanagan, Thomas Grünfeld, Installations by Maurizio Cattelan or Janis Kounellis, Damien Hirst, William Wegman's photos, ...)
- or a symbolic manner (Hermann Nitsch's "sacrifices", David Nébréda's "soilings", ...), ...
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").D130 : 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., ...). by variations in execution
seriality, multiplication (Claude Viallat, Niele Toroni, "figurines" by Antony Gormley, ...), accumulation or compression (J. Chamberlain, Arman, César, ...), subtleties and variability of the material (Rober Ryman's "Whites"; dissolutions of "matter / life" by Roman Opalka or by On Kawara; Gilberto Zorio, ...).
BRESSON Alain
www.alainbresson.com |
