Groupe Espace was a French avant-garde artistic movement between 1951 and 1960.[1] The group was founded by architect André Bloc in 1951 and members associated with the journal Art d'Aujourd'hui [Art Today]. Their purpose was to create a new environment appropriate to modern society. They envisaged art as a social phenomenon - not an individual one.
"Espace" means "space" in French, and the group was interested in promoting art located in the physical and social environment. A second meaning of the word was concerned with space as a compositional element "by which space within a three-dimensional art work allowed for its penetration by light."[4]
Groupe Espace sought to break away from traditional artistic conventions and explore new forms of expression, particularly in abstract art. Groupe Espace was influenced by various avant-garde movements of the time, including Constructivism, Abstract Expressionism and Art Informel.
Piet Mondrian wrote in his 1937 essay "Plastic Art and Pure Plastic Art (Figurative Art and Non-Figurative Art)" published in the book CIRCLE: "Art will not only continue but will realize itself more and more. By the unification of architecture, sculpture, and painting, a new plastic reality will be created. Painting and sculpture will not manifest themselves as separate objects, nor as 'mural art' which destroys architecture itself, nor as 'applied' art, but being purely constructive will aid the creation of a surrounding not merely utilitarian or rational but also pure and complete in its beauty". In this essay, as the title implies, "plastic" art is "figurative" and "objective"; whereas "pure plastic" art is "non-figurative" and "subjective".[5]
Historyedit
André Bloc (1896–1966) graduated as an engineer and later became an architect. He founded the journal L'Architecture d'Aujourdhui [Architecture Today] in 1930, and began sculpting in the 1940s. In 1949 he founded the journal Art d'Aujourd'hui [Art Today] which, in 1954, merged with L'Architecture d'Aujourdhui to become Aujourdhui [Today].[4]
Bloc's artistic output included painting, sculpture, architecture, mosaics, furniture, textile designs and screen prints. He had a life-long interest in Constructivism that pre-dated his own transition from figuration to abstraction in 1945. This Constructivist synthesis of artistic disciplines is reflected in his 1936 book L'Union pour L'Art [The Union of Art].[4]
Groupe Espace was formed at a meeting in the Grand Palais in Paris, on 17 October 1951. This initial meeting was largely attended by architects, painters, sculptors and neoplasticists. "Bloc's opening address connected Groupe Espace to the Constructivist tradition and drew a parallel between the aims of the group and those of the pre-war De Stijl and Bauhaus movements." The meeting endorsed a Manifesto, an English translation of which can be found by Jeffrey Steele in Appendix A of Alan Fowler's PhD thesis.[6]
Referencesedit
^Petersen, Stephen (2015). "The Dynamics of "Space" in Postwar Art "Le Groupe Espace" and "Arte Spaziale"". Saggi e Memorie di Storia dell'arte. 39: 226–237. JSTOR 44843851.
^Chilvers, Ian (2009). A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art (2nd Ed). Oxford University Press. pp. 291–292. ISBN978-0-19-923965-8.
^Fowler, Alan (2007). "A Forgotten British Constructivist Group: The London Branch of Groupe Espace, 1953-59". The Burlington Magazine. 149 (1248): 173–179. JSTOR 20074761.
^ abcdFowler, Alan (2006). Constructivist Art in Britain 1913-2005 (Thesis). Winchester School of Art. p. 104.
^Mondrian, Piet (1937). CIRCLE. Internet Archive: Faber and Faber Ltd. pp. 41–56. ISBN0-571-09552-6. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
^Fowler, Alan (2006). Constructivist Art in Britain 1913-2005 (Thesis). Winchester School of Art.
External linksedit
[1] Constructivist Art in Britain 1913–2005 by Alan Fowler (2006)
April 30, 2024
groupe, espace, french, avant, garde, artistic, movement, between, 1951, 1960, group, founded, architect, andré, bloc, 1951, members, associated, with, journal, aujourd, today, their, purpose, create, environment, appropriate, modern, society, they, envisaged,. Groupe Espace was a French avant garde artistic movement between 1951 and 1960 1 The group was founded by architect Andre Bloc in 1951 and members associated with the journal Art d Aujourd hui Art Today Their purpose was to create a new environment appropriate to modern society They envisaged art as a social phenomenon not an individual one Members of the group included Jean Dewasne Jean Gorin Jean Messagier Jean Le Moal Edgard Pillet Erno Goldfinger Walter Gropius Marcel Breuer Frits Glamer Gianni Monnet Gualtiero Nativi and Nicolas Schoffer 2 There was also the London Branch of Groupe Espace from 1953 to 1959 founded by Paule Vezelay 3 4 Contents 1 Purpose of the group 2 History 3 References 4 External linksPurpose of the group edit Espace means space in French and the group was interested in promoting art located in the physical and social environment A second meaning of the word was concerned with space as a compositional element by which space within a three dimensional art work allowed for its penetration by light 4 Groupe Espace sought to break away from traditional artistic conventions and explore new forms of expression particularly in abstract art Groupe Espace was influenced by various avant garde movements of the time including Constructivism Abstract Expressionism and Art Informel Piet Mondrian wrote in his 1937 essay Plastic Art and Pure Plastic Art Figurative Art and Non Figurative Art published in the book CIRCLE Art will not only continue but will realize itself more and more By the unification of architecture sculpture and painting a new plastic reality will be created Painting and sculpture will not manifest themselves as separate objects nor as mural art which destroys architecture itself nor as applied art but being purely constructive will aid the creation of a surrounding not merely utilitarian or rational but also pure and complete in its beauty In this essay as the title implies plastic art is figurative and objective whereas pure plastic art is non figurative and subjective 5 History editAndre Bloc 1896 1966 graduated as an engineer and later became an architect He founded the journal L Architecture d Aujourdhui Architecture Today in 1930 and began sculpting in the 1940s In 1949 he founded the journal Art d Aujourd hui Art Today which in 1954 merged with L Architecture d Aujourdhui to become Aujourdhui Today 4 Bloc s artistic output included painting sculpture architecture mosaics furniture textile designs and screen prints He had a life long interest in Constructivism that pre dated his own transition from figuration to abstraction in 1945 This Constructivist synthesis of artistic disciplines is reflected in his 1936 book L Union pour L Art The Union of Art 4 Groupe Espace was formed at a meeting in the Grand Palais in Paris on 17 October 1951 This initial meeting was largely attended by architects painters sculptors and neoplasticists Bloc s opening address connected Groupe Espace to the Constructivist tradition and drew a parallel between the aims of the group and those of the pre war De Stijl and Bauhaus movements The meeting endorsed a Manifesto an English translation of which can be found by Jeffrey Steele in Appendix A of Alan Fowler s PhD thesis 6 References edit Petersen Stephen 2015 The Dynamics of Space in Postwar Art Le Groupe Espace and Arte Spaziale Saggi e Memorie di Storia dell arte 39 226 237 JSTOR 44843851 Chilvers Ian 2009 A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art 2nd Ed Oxford University Press pp 291 292 ISBN 978 0 19 923965 8 Fowler Alan 2007 A Forgotten British Constructivist Group The London Branch of Groupe Espace 1953 59 The Burlington Magazine 149 1248 173 179 JSTOR 20074761 a b c d Fowler Alan 2006 Constructivist Art in Britain 1913 2005 Thesis Winchester School of Art p 104 Mondrian Piet 1937 CIRCLE Internet Archive Faber and Faber Ltd pp 41 56 ISBN 0 571 09552 6 Retrieved 13 April 2024 Fowler Alan 2006 Constructivist Art in Britain 1913 2005 Thesis Winchester School of Art External links edit 1 Constructivist Art in Britain 1913 2005 by Alan Fowler 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Groupe Espace amp oldid 1219003118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
