Organic Abstraction is an artistic style characterized by "the use of rounded or wavy abstract forms based on what one finds in nature."[1] It takes its cues from rhythmic forms found in nature, both small scale, as in the structures of small-growth leaves and stems, and grand, as in the shapes of the universe that are revealed by astronomy and physics.[2] Nautillus shells and honeycombs are examples of organic structures that have served as inspiration for this work,[3] along with the bones and musculature of the body, both human and animal.[4]
Frank Lloyd Wright, 1959, Solomon R. Guggenheim Art Museum, New York City. The "Chambered Nautilus on 5th Avenue"[5]
Although organic abstraction has been described as a "feature" rather than "an actual movement,"[1] the style arose in part as a reaction against the austerity of mid-century Constructivist art and is best known for its practitioners of the mid 20th century, whether in sculpture--Jean Arp, Constantin Brâncuși, Henry Moore; architecture--Eero Saarinen, Frank Lloyd Wright (for the Guggenheim Museum); or design--Charles Eames, Isamu Noguchi. Some recent critics contend that the term Biomorphic Abstraction is coming to be used more generally to describe contemporary art produced in this mode.[6]
Hans (Jean) Arp, Evocation of a Form: Human, Lunar, Spectral, 1950 Hirshhorn Museum Washington, DC
In the early decades of the 20th century, prevailing attitudes among European intellectual classes favored reason and science. This attitude demonstrated itself in the highly intellectual avant-garde artistic styles that dominated in Europe and America in the 1920s and 30s: an "intentional formalism" prevailed in the precise, geometric tendencies of styles like Cubism, Constructivism and, later, Concrete Art.[6]
A countervailing view was proposed by French Philosopher Henri Bergson in the early 1900s. Bergeson challenged the primacy of representation over abstraction, science and logic over intuition. He proposed a values system elevating creativity that mimicked the processes of nature, whether by fecundity, mutation, or a concept he called "unforeseeable novelty".[6]
Bergson's ideas took some decades before becoming widely influential in the field of the visual arts. "Although biomorphic forms had appeared in both painting and sculpture by 1913, it was only after the destruction of the utopian visions of Futurism, Cubism and Constructivism, by Stalinism, the Great Depression and Nazism, that Science was superseded by Nature as the prime inspiration for painters and sculptors alike. Organic Abstraction aimed not to build or construct rationally, but to emulate the germinal forces of nature."[7]
Bergson's ideas deeply influenced sculptors like Jean Arp and Constantin Brâncuși (both domiciled in France during the 1930s) and, in art, architecture, and design, spread to widespread influence in the 1950s and 60s.
^ abDelahoyde, Michael. "20th-Century Arts & Humanities". Washington State University. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
^Curtis, Cathy. “Lessons From Nature's Rhythms `Organic Abstractions' Exhibit Is Dedicated to Helping Unravel Art's Mysterie.” Los Angeles Times. August 27, 1989.
^Art, Whitney Museum of American; Phillips, Lisa (1988). Vital Signs: Organic Abstraction from the Permanent Collection. Whitney Museum of American Art. ISBN978-0-87427-059-4.
^Curtis, Cathy (1989-08-27). "Lessons From Nature's Rhythms : 'Organic Abstractions' Exhibit Is Dedicated to Helping Unravel Art's Mysteries". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
^Co, Francesco Dal (2017-01-01). The Guggenheim: Frank Lloyd Wright's Iconoclastic Masterpiece. Yale University Press. ISBN978-0-300-22605-8.
^ abc"IdeelArt | The online gallerist". IdeelArt.com. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
^"Biomorphic Abstraction: Organic Shapes in Sculpture, Painting". www.visual-arts-cork.com. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
April 14, 2024
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Organic Abstraction is an artistic style characterized by the use of rounded or wavy abstract forms based on what one finds in nature 1 It takes its cues from rhythmic forms found in nature both small scale as in the structures of small growth leaves and stems and grand as in the shapes of the universe that are revealed by astronomy and physics 2 Nautillus shells and honeycombs are examples of organic structures that have served as inspiration for this work 3 along with the bones and musculature of the body both human and animal 4 Frank Lloyd Wright 1959 Solomon R Guggenheim Art Museum New York City The Chambered Nautilus on 5th Avenue 5 Although organic abstraction has been described as a feature rather than an actual movement 1 the style arose in part as a reaction against the austerity of mid century Constructivist art and is best known for its practitioners of the mid 20th century whether in sculpture Jean Arp Constantin Brancuși Henry Moore architecture Eero Saarinen Frank Lloyd Wright for the Guggenheim Museum or design Charles Eames Isamu Noguchi Some recent critics contend that the term Biomorphic Abstraction is coming to be used more generally to describe contemporary art produced in this mode 6 Contents 1 Origins 2 Influence on Mid century Modern 2 1 Sculpture 2 2 Design 2 3 Architecture 3 Ongoing Influence 3 1 Architecture 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 ReferencesOrigins edit nbsp Hans Jean Arp Evocation of a Form Human Lunar Spectral 1950 Hirshhorn Museum Washington DCIn the early decades of the 20th century prevailing attitudes among European intellectual classes favored reason and science This attitude demonstrated itself in the highly intellectual avant garde artistic styles that dominated in Europe and America in the 1920s and 30s an intentional formalism prevailed in the precise geometric tendencies of styles like Cubism Constructivism and later Concrete Art 6 A countervailing view was proposed by French Philosopher Henri Bergson in the early 1900s Bergeson challenged the primacy of representation over abstraction science and logic over intuition He proposed a values system elevating creativity that mimicked the processes of nature whether by fecundity mutation or a concept he called unforeseeable novelty 6 Bergson s ideas took some decades before becoming widely influential in the field of the visual arts Although biomorphic forms had appeared in both painting and sculpture by 1913 it was only after the destruction of the utopian visions of Futurism Cubism and Constructivism by Stalinism the Great Depression and Nazism that Science was superseded by Nature as the prime inspiration for painters and sculptors alike Organic Abstraction aimed not to build or construct rationally but to emulate the germinal forces of nature 7 Bergson s ideas deeply influenced sculptors like Jean Arp and Constantin Brancuși both domiciled in France during the 1930s and in art architecture and design spread to widespread influence in the 1950s and 60s Influence on Mid century Modern editSculpture edit Jean Arp 1886 1966 Constantin Brancuși 1876 1967 Barbara Hepworth 1903 1975 Corinthos Henry Moore 1898 1996 Reclining FigureDesign edit Isamu Noguchi 1898 1996 Noguchi table Charles Eames 1898 1996 Eames Lounge Chair Wood Eero Saarinen 1898 1996 Tulip chair Achille Castiglioni 1898 1996 Mezzadro StoolArchitecture edit Eero Saarinen Frank Lloyd WrightOngoing Influence editArchitecture edit Frank GehryGallery edit nbsp Constantin Brancusi 1926 Fish Bronze metal and wood 93 4 50 2 50 2 cm Tate Modern London nbsp Henry Moore 1969 70 Two Piece Reclining Figure Points Bronze Alte Pinakothek Munich nbsp Eero Saarinen 1956 62 TWA Building JFK Airport nbsp Eero Saarinen 1953 58 David S Ingalls Hockey Rink Yale University New Haven CT nbsp Charles Eames 1945 6 Lounge Chair Wood plywood with rosewood veneer 67 63 x 56 2 x 62 87 cm nbsp Achille Castiglioni 1957 Mezzadro Stool enameled steel chrome plated steel beech 53 49 5 53 cmSee also editBiomorphismReferences edit a b Delahoyde Michael 20th Century Arts amp Humanities Washington State University Retrieved 2022 01 09 Curtis Cathy Lessons From Nature s Rhythms Organic Abstractions Exhibit Is Dedicated to Helping Unravel Art s Mysterie Los Angeles Times August 27 1989 Art Whitney Museum of American Phillips Lisa 1988 Vital Signs Organic Abstraction from the Permanent Collection Whitney Museum of American Art ISBN 978 0 87427 059 4 Curtis Cathy 1989 08 27 Lessons From Nature s Rhythms Organic Abstractions Exhibit Is Dedicated to Helping Unravel Art s Mysteries Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2022 01 09 Co Francesco Dal 2017 01 01 The Guggenheim Frank Lloyd Wright s Iconoclastic Masterpiece Yale University Press ISBN 978 0 300 22605 8 a b c IdeelArt The online gallerist IdeelArt com Retrieved 2022 01 09 Biomorphic Abstraction Organic Shapes in Sculpture Painting www visual arts cork com Retrieved 2022 01 08 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Organic Abstraction amp oldid 1177474518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
