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").A140 : Abstracts Geometrical constructs: Hard Edge, Minimalism, Neo-Minimalism
From "Concrete Art" to "Minimalist Art", all shapes or colors treated in a strictly orthogonal way, reducing sensitivity to a minimum (Joseph Albers, Mondrian, Gorin, Ad Reinhardt, "monochromes" by Rodtchenko, Frank Stella, Peter Halley, J. Armleder, R.M. Trockel, ... and in sculpture; Carl André, Sol Lewitt, Tony Cragg, ...). A230 : Abstracts with signs
The work as a whole remains abstract but includes (or consists entirely of): where signs become symbols or icons
crossover from simple writing to meaningful symbols (Jean Fautrier, Alfred Manessier, Alechinsky, Ch. Dotremont, A.R. Penck, Wenda Gu, ...).
B axis : MATERIALITY
How does the materiality of what is shown come across?
(on a scale from more "immaterial" to more "real").B220 : Materiality
in painting, but also with all other materials with the following possibilities: Structured predominance of volumes
particularly in sculpture and assemblages. Specially for "Minimal Art" and its derivatives (Sol Le Witt, Tony Smith, …). B210 : Materiality
in painting, but also with all other materials with the following possibilities: Structured with materials predominant
their thickness, composition or the way they are worked as structures (the way they are "built up") are here the most important aspect (Eugène Leroy, Bertrand Lavier, ...). B240 : materials or objects in "assemblages", collages/decollages, or installations
meaningful or meaningless objects (or even offcasts of society) when they are assembled with a new spirit:
- to make something aesthetic, as with the "New realists" (Arman, Spoerri, César, …); the "Affichists" (Jiri Kolar, M. Rotella, R. Hains, ...)
- in parody as with the "Simulationnistes" (Haïm Steinbach, ...)
- in many and various other "Installations" as with well known artists (Christian Boltanski, Edward Kienholz, ...) and above all with many artists of the new generation.
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", ...).C150 : between
Where the material and corporal necessities of existence confront the multiple questions about its "essence" (from Munch's "Scream" to the Installations of Thomas Hirschhorn, from Karrel Appel's "Scream" to Francis Bacon, ...). 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, ...). C160 : tending towards the corporeal / the senses via expression with "humanity" (the passage from Life to Death)
- in a literal manner (John de Andrea, Duane Hanson, Itsvan Sandorfi, ...)
- or a symbolic manner (James Ensor, G. Rouault, F. Gruber, Zoran Music, Rebeca Stevenson, Jan Vercruysse, ...), ...
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").D100 : via what is meant with a more marked religious feeling
from Alfred Manessier's paintings and Giacomo Manzu's sculptures, to Michel Journiac's "Masses" or Andreas Serrano's "Piss Christ" or the Renée Cox's "tableaux" ... D110 : via what is meant with various spiritual or less marked religious influences
(from Barnett Newman to Mark Rothko, from Roman Opalka to Arnulf Rainer, ...). D165 : tending towards the worldly "Relational Aesthetics" and the like
"installations" by Rirkrit Tiravanija, Thomas Hirschhorn, Mathieu Laurette, ...).
POCHELU Régis
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