MOVING ON TO SOMETHING ELSE...
Fautrier left me somehow puzzled. Why this time more than with other painters. Perhaps that his pallet was so varied and an artist which could not be identified so easily. The questions that came to mind. « Why am I so intrigued with abstract art? » « Why do so many of the realist artists and of no particular period, leave me indifferent? » That doesn’t mean to say that I don’t appreciate their work but most of the time, the paintings are reassuring and have an immediate identity. Many of my friends can’t understand my attraction to abstract work. « Squiggles. » « Paint splashed onto a canvas » Don’t know what I’m looking at »…and the comments go on. Perhaps that is why I am so attracted to abstract work. For me, there are so many hidden images and colours which intermingle giving way to space or sometimes crowded into a small space. They make me « study » a painting. Realism doesn’t.
So what would it be now? Where had time gone? Dada in Africa was to finish that day. So there I must go.
When I walked into the exhibition - I had been there before. Was I about to see anything new? Also, I am not a great follower of African art but for once I really did see the influence it had had on the different artists! Even Picasso, although I didn't see it here.
I had discovered the Dada period in Zurich. A specific retrospective who I visited oh so many years ago. I remember returning to Paris and rushing up to my Mother’s place to tell her all about it. For the first time in years I was telling about artists she didn’t know (Hannah Höch in particular). She knew a little about the period and certainly quite a lot about there French artists belonging to Dada. Rather like me with Fautrier. I knew a lot of his work but little about the period it belonged to.
Dada, a prolific and an anti-establishment movement, first emerged in Zurich during the First World War, and then spread to centres such as Berlin, Paris and New York. Through their new works – sound poems, collage, performance – the Dada artists questioned Western society struggling with the first World War, while appropriating the cultural and artistic forms of non-western cultures such as Africa, Oceania and America. This was a great change in artistic attitude.
The Musée de l’Orangerie presented an exhibition on these exchanges with African, American Indian and Asian works alongside those of the Dadaists - Hanna Höch, Jean Arp, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Marcel Janco, Hugo Ball, Tristan Tzara, Raoul Haussmann, Man Ray and Picabia, among others. Without sounding presumptuous, the artists in question were known to me but not always appreciated
The artists belonging to the movement participated at Dada soirées which I imagine were contested by the government who really did not understand what was going on. Dance, sound documents, music, revealing the diversity, inventiveness and radical nature of Dada productions – textiles, graphics, posters, assemblages, wooden reliefs, dolls and puppets – the connection with African art emerged. A strange beauty which not too many knew about at that time. Paul Guillaume, an important dealer in African art, played a leading role in this cultural encounter that took place against a background of hybrids, genre and colonial attitudes.
There were two contemporary artist included in the exhibition. Somehow they didn’t really attract me, so no photos.
Finally, I had spent nearly two hours in the exhibition. Some of the tapestries and carpets were very much to my taste. Crossing the Tuileries, I thought about what I had seen. Nothing really new. It was that moment that I took the decision to look at other « things ». My Mother frequently said to me when I was adamant about something « I’ll never do such and such a thing again » « Maggie, never say never..leave the door open ». There maybe new chapters but after close to 500 chapters, I now must look for something else…
So what would it be now? Where had time gone? Dada in Africa was to finish that day. So there I must go.
When I walked into the exhibition - I had been there before. Was I about to see anything new? Also, I am not a great follower of African art but for once I really did see the influence it had had on the different artists! Even Picasso, although I didn't see it here.
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| Picasso - Nude on a Red Background - 1905-06 |
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| Raymond Russel (1877-1933) Impression of Africa. |
I had discovered the Dada period in Zurich. A specific retrospective who I visited oh so many years ago. I remember returning to Paris and rushing up to my Mother’s place to tell her all about it. For the first time in years I was telling about artists she didn’t know (Hannah Höch in particular). She knew a little about the period and certainly quite a lot about there French artists belonging to Dada. Rather like me with Fautrier. I knew a lot of his work but little about the period it belonged to.
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| Hannah Hoch (1889-1978) Dispute - 1940 |
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| Jean Crotti (4878-1958) Manifeste Tabu - 1921 |
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The Musée de l’Orangerie presented an exhibition on these exchanges with African, American Indian and Asian works alongside those of the Dadaists - Hanna Höch, Jean Arp, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Marcel Janco, Hugo Ball, Tristan Tzara, Raoul Haussmann, Man Ray and Picabia, among others. Without sounding presumptuous, the artists in question were known to me but not always appreciated
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| Buddha - head by unknown artist - XllC |
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| Francis Picabia (1879-1953) PORTRAIT OF TRISTAN TZARA -1919 |
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| Hannah Hoch (1889-1978) No title - 1929 |
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| Torso of the desse Uma : XC; |
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| Hannah Hoch (1889-1978) On the Nil l -1943-46 |
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| Jean/Hans Arp (1886-1966) Trousse d'un DA - 1920-21 |
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| Hannah Hoch (1889-1978) Especially don't have your feet on the ground! 1940 |
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| Unknow artist -Masculin statue - |
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| Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889-1943) Marionnettes for the Roi Cerf -1918 |
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| Marionnettes for the Roi Cerf -1918 |
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| Max Ernst (1891-1976) Nature at sunrise - 1936 |
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| Hans Richter (1888-976) Dada design - "Co-Man" 1917 |
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| Demon Mask |
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Marcel Janco (1895-1984) |
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Marcel Janco (1895-1984) |
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| Picasso1881-1973) Woman with combs - 1906 |
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| Anonymous - At the opening of the first International Dada Fair - 1920 |
The artists belonging to the movement participated at Dada soirées which I imagine were contested by the government who really did not understand what was going on. Dance, sound documents, music, revealing the diversity, inventiveness and radical nature of Dada productions – textiles, graphics, posters, assemblages, wooden reliefs, dolls and puppets – the connection with African art emerged. A strange beauty which not too many knew about at that time. Paul Guillaume, an important dealer in African art, played a leading role in this cultural encounter that took place against a background of hybrids, genre and colonial attitudes.
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| Francis Picabia (1879-1953) Serpentins l -1918-19 |
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| Unknown artist - Dance Stick XIXC |
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| Hannah Hoch (1889-1978) Dada Dolls - 1916-18 |
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| Raoul Hausmann (1886-1971) No Title - 1915 |
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| Unknown Artist - XXc Box |
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| Sophie Taueber-Arp (1899-1943) Composition - 1916 |
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| Jean/Hans Arp (1886-1966) Composition N° 20 - 1917 |
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| Jean/Hans Arp (1886-1966)- No title - 1918 |
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| Jean/Hans Arp (1886-1966) - Collage - 1920 |
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| Sophie Taueber-Arp (1899-1943) - No title - Project for brodery of personnages - 1926 |
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| Sophie Taueber-Arp (1899-1943) Personnages - 1926 |
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| Hannah Hoch (1889-1978) (Affaire d'Opinion) 1940 |
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| Jean/Hans Arp (1886-1966) - Crucifixion - 1915 |
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| Unknown Artist - Statue Sitting - |
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| Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1899-1943) Spots representing Personnages - 1920 |
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| Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1899-1943) - Composition - 1918 |
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| Jean/Hans Arp (1886-1966) |
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| Sophie Taueber-Arp (1899-1943) |
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| Doll by an unknown artist |
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| Emile Nolde (1897-1956) Exotic Figures - 1911 |
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| Emile Nolde (1897-1956) Exotic Figures - 1911 |
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| Marcel Janco ( 1895-1984) Project for a poster Dada -1916 |
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| Raoul Haussmann - No Title - 917 |
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| Unknown artists - Gouro type Costmume XXc |
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| Max Ernst (1891-1976) - 1921 |
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| Paul Eluard (1895-1952) - Masks - 1918 |
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| Marcel Janco (1895-1984) Jazz 333 - 1918 |
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| Marci Janco ( 1895-1984) Cabaret "Voltair" 1970 |
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| Unknown artist |
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| Sophie Taeuber -Arp (1889-1943) Abstract masks - 1917 |
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| Jean/Hans Arp (1886-1966) Forest - 1916-17 |
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| Jean Hans Arp (1886-1966) Configuration - 1916 |
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| Marco Janco (1895-1984) Game of discs - 1920 |
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| Hans Richter (1888-1976) Visionnary Portrait - 1917 |
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| Raoul Hausmann(1886-1971) Blue Nude - 1916 |
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| Marcos Jacob |
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| Unknown Artist - 1892 Magic Statuette |
There were two contemporary artist included in the exhibition. Somehow they didn’t really attract me, so no photos.
Finally, I had spent nearly two hours in the exhibition. Some of the tapestries and carpets were very much to my taste. Crossing the Tuileries, I thought about what I had seen. Nothing really new. It was that moment that I took the decision to look at other « things ». My Mother frequently said to me when I was adamant about something « I’ll never do such and such a thing again » « Maggie, never say never..leave the door open ». There maybe new chapters but after close to 500 chapters, I now must look for something else…
Commentaires
To me, realist art presents / abstract art suggests.
Looking forward to more