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").A150 : Abstracts Geometrical constructs: Constructions not based on right angles from "Post Cubism" with shapes broken down into strict planar surfaces, but not necessarily right angled. (Robert Delaunay, Maurice Estève, Jean Dewasne, Herbin, ...). A170 : Abstracts mixed (between constructed and not constructed) from "Field Painting" to "Abstract Expressionism"; taking over the pictorial space by pushing forward the limits of "all over" (Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, J.P Riopelle, Joan Michell, Judith Reigl, …). A210 : Abstracts with signs The work as a whole remains abstract but includes (or consists entirely of): signs forming writing: writing without meaning the sign as an abstract shape placed in the composition of the pictorial space (R.Motherwell, Giuseppe Capogrossi, Christian Dotremont, Cy Twombly, ...).
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,...). 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").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, ...). LUNEAU Liliane www.lilianeluneau.com |