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, ...). 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, ...).
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,...). B170 : Materiality in painting, but also with all other materials with the following possibilities: unstructured unstructured combinations free combinations of colour, matter and volumes in a more unstructured fashion (Alberto Burri, Manolo Millares, ...). B230 : Materiality in painting, but also with all other materials with the following possibilities: Structured structured combinations any combinations of lines, colours, matter or volumes of a more structured type (Michail Heizer, Anish Kapoor, Miguel Barceló, ...).
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", ...).C110 : towards the intellectual side/ the essence of things conceptual levels specific questionings from Bruce Naumann to Daniel Buren; the "Art System" questions its own foundations or its history (C.M Mariani, Wim Delvoye, Komar et Melamid, ...). 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, ...). D150 : 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., ...). because the work itself contains a really clear message (Jenny Hölzer's illuminated messages, texts by Ben or On Kawara, ...). GWEN.H www.gwen-h.odexpo.com |