Wednesday, 9 January 2013

Abstract Non-objective Concrete Minimal

As per the previous post, and my statement 'My language is the abstract form' on 'The Constant' page on the roposculpture website: http://www.rosemariepowellsculpture.co.uk/Now.html 

Abstract in the sense of 'works of art which, though they may start from the artist's awareness of an object in the external world, proceed to make a self-consistent and independent aesthetic unity in no sense relying on an objective equivalence'; 'the construction of works of art from non-representational basic forms (often simple geometric shapes); 'spontaneous, free expression'; 'with the implicit notion that the work of art exists in its own right, and not necessarily as a mirror of reality'.
Here, therefore, in the sense of NOT derived through abstraction.

Non-objective, 'usually but not always geometric and inspired by Plato, who believed that geometry was the highest form of beauty; may attempt to visualize the spiritual and can be seen as carrying a moral dimension, standing for virtues like purity and simplicity --> Minimal'.

Concrete, 'abstract art entirely free of any basis in observed reality with no symbolic implications'.

Minimal/Minimalism, 'extending the abstract idea that art should have its own reality and not be an imitation of some other thing. ... works in very simple geometric shapes ... works that explore the properties of their materials. ... offers a highly purified form of beauty. ... representing such qualities as truth (because it does not pretend to be anything other than what it is), order, simplicity, harmony'.

In reference to He Wenjue: 'there are two important things in contemporary art: intellectual content and emotion'.