I was still bubbling with enthusiasm when I met up with Gianni to go
to Dynamo. Would I be as enthusiastic when I had seen this block-buster? Over 4,000 square metres of cinetic art?
Dynamo, a century of light and movement. 1913-2013. The first thing that struck me of course were that the important periods are the 60's/80's.. Having seen the Julio Le Parc, I should have recognized this at once as most of his work is dated in the 60’s although a lot was started in the late 60’s/70’s and completed in the 2000’s and some in 2013. In looking at the small edition of Beaux Arts, those of real interest and creative are completed during this period. The 60’s of course were vibrant years. Everything was changing. Art too. No more frames (heavens above).
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| Meta Malévith - wood, metal with a mechanical device -1945 |
Art is in movement. Jean Tinguely’s. (1925-1991) machine sculptures engage in a loud and multi-coloured conversation with the onlooker: Through his works, Jean Tinguely communicates and interacts with the spectator. The machine functions and becomes art. Tinguely’s artworks sparkle with wit, vitality, irony and poetry. I knew his work from the early 80’s but it was when I visited the foundation in Basel that I spent a day playing with machines. It was magic.
This particular work turns like a constellation. Fascinating.....
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| But not at Dynamo |
Movement began in 1913 with Marcel Duchamp and his bicycle wheel. Ready Made they called it and all it was, was a wheel you could spin. Art?
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| Calder - The Shields -1944 |
So many artists we know as artists experimented with cinetic art. Victor Vasarely (1906-1997), but my eyes cross when I look at his black and white squares. Alexander Calder (1898-1976)- everyone loves him I think?
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| Rodtchenko - Oval construction 1919 which he updated later.... |
Alexander Rodtchenko (Russian-1891-1956), politically very involved in the Russian revolution he was also an abstract artist, photographer and influenced by cubisim and futurism.
Julio Le Parc (1928-) and François Morellet (1926-) are extremely important for this period.
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| Francois Morellet - Triple X Neonly 2012 |
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| Francois Morellet - Trois grilles se déformant - 1965 |
Morellet, I like and I don't like. Sometimes I find his work is overdone or too much in it, even if he is considered to be a minimalist. I didn't like his neons which were too much like Flavin's, nor do I go for his squares and circles, but the above I do like - and done in 2012.
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| Gianni "in" Julio Le Parc |
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| Soto - twisting and turning..... |
Of course, I have not mentioned everyone - far from it. Jesus Rafael Soto (1923-2005). should not be forgotten . He is Venezulien. His monumental sculpture at the Beaubourg was in place in the main entrance hall for ten years.
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| Frantisek Kupka 1921-25 |
Frantisek Kupja (1871-1957). Gianni and I discovered his work in 2005 - perhaps earlier?
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| Bleuette 2006 |
Anne Veronica Janssens (1956 - ) who uses light as a medium and from my point of view is one of the most interesting artists today. This "Bluette" 2006 is like an impalpable abstract scupture with seven beams of light which wind and unwind to form a star. Quite beautiful
Many of them I do not like. The list is quite long. Many more I discovered and they are amusing or interesting for the moment of an exhibition, but nothing I will rave about.
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| Heinz Mack - Lichtgitter 1964 |
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| Nicolas Schoffer 1959 |
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| Nicolas Schoffer 1959 back |
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| Jean Tremblay - 1995 |
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| Xavier Veilhan - 2013 The Grand Palais Mobile |
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| Gianni and I entering into a tunnel |
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| Timo Nasseri - 2013 - Painted Steel |
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| Joel Stein Anamorphose 1967 |
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| Toni Costa - 1961 |
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| Pol Bury - 1953-1955 |
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| Even Kusama |
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| Kusama |
So much seems to be repetition of those artists I have talked about. If I mentioned the dates is that the real forerunners - most of them anyway - are not longer with us. And the few who are are still so inventive and unique that hours can be spent entering into their frame. Anne Veronica Janssens whose work I will look out for.
This is where imagination counts. Each one of these images can be entered into, follows you, changes your shape, moves with you ......my daughter made the remark when we went to see the Julio Le Parc together. "It's restful". I certainly agree although some light effects can be very aggressive and neons and flashing squares are bad news for my eyes but on the whole, this cinetic art is as she says is "restful". Perhaps though it is because you really don't have to think or interpret - just walk into into the frame and become living art.
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