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").A320 : Representative works Traditional representative works
from the most poetic vision to the most delicate evocation of what constitutes our life and environment, represented by the various forms of painting we know as the "French Tradition" (from Cézanne's Provence landscapes to Van Gogh's bunches of flowers, from Boudin's seascapes to Kisling's portraits...). 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", ...).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, ...).
BRETONES Thierry
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