Sam Francis

Untitled, 1984

106.7 X 73 inch

Explore

What is a Biennial?

What is a Biennial?

A Biennial is an art exhibition held every two years, typically on a large scale with international participants. The first and most famous example is the Venice Biennale, established in 1895 and held in the Giardini, a public park in Venice. Over time, the event has grown to include thirty permanent pavilions, each representing different countries. Biennials have become significant events in the contemporary art world, offering a platform for artists to showcase their work to a global audience.

Image © Rui Alves / Unsplash
Gutai

Gutai was a group of Japanese radical artists who formed the Gutai Art Association in 1954. The word Gutai translates to embodiment. The group was known for creating art on the spot for live audiences, often incorporating their own physical movements. Their performances included actions like throwing paint, piercing paper, and rolling in mud, emphasizing the direct interaction between the body and the material.

Futurism

Futurism was an early 20th-century art movement that sought to capture the energy and dynamism of the modern world. The movement was launched by Italian poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, who published the Manifesto of Futurism on February 20, 1909. Futurism denounced the past and passionately embraced technology, industry, and the speed of modern life.

New Topographics

New Topographics is a term coined in 1975 by curator William Jenkins to describe a group of photographers whose work focused on formal black-and-white images of urban and industrial landscapes. Jenkins initially described their aesthetic as banal, but the photographers themselves argued that their compositions were as significant as those of natural landscapes, emphasizing the beauty in everyday, man-made environments.

Can't find your Answer?