Informalism, or art informel, takes centre stage at Dorotheum’s contemporary art auction on 31 May.
Informalism a.k.a. art informel
Spontaneous painting, rendering one’s thoughts, feelings, and artistic process visible as they happen: informalism is the art of the momentary. The moment that emerged from the spirit of post-war modernism, with all its formal abstraction.
The French art critic Michel Tapié introduced the concept of ‘Informalism’, which is often mentioned in connection with ‘lyrical abstraction’ and ‘tachism’, in 1952.
Officially informal at Dorotheum
Informalism is by nature abstract and spontaneous, so it is only fitting that it would take a wide variety of forms. The diverse range of works that feature in the coming auction make that fact clear:
Gestural drawings by Hans Hartung, dynamic calligraphic works by Georges Mathieu and Emilio Vedova as well as large-scale works by Nicolas De Stael and Material Gestaltetes by Jean Fautrier.
The art of the moment
The art of informalism may be created in a matter of seconds, yet as art, it has lasting value. In that sense, this Western artistic style has parallels in Eastern culture. As George Mathieu pointed out:
In the Far East, it does not occur to anyone to question the artistic value of calligraphy simply because its creation is complete within seconds.
Contemporary art auction
Part 1
Wednesday, 31 May 2017, 6 p.m.
Part 2
Thursday, 1 June 2017, 5 p.m.
Preview: from Saturday, 20 May 2017
Palais Dorotheum
Other artists whose works are part of the auction include Tano Festa and members of the ZERO group. Read more below.
