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").A410 : Individualist Art (Art Singulier) Naïve Art, Folk Art, Infantile Art
expression of cultural identities: from a region (traditional arts ), from a certain time (for example the infantile naive; Chaïbia, ...), from a genre ... including in "savant art": cf. the pseudo-infantile art of Fernando Botero, Niki de Saint Phalle, ... A400 : Individualist Art (Art Singulier) Art brut
from art without cultural references (Dubuffet, Adolf Wölfli, …) to turning cast-off objects into art (Chomo, Maisonneuve, ...). A440 : Neo Figurative "Narrative Figurative Art"
Introduction of the Time element into the depiction of reality. Discontinuities and juxtapositions of different time spaces creating a story within the picture itself (Jacques Monory, Errò, Bernard Rancillac, David Salle,…) or in photomontage (Raoul Hausmann, Richard Hamilton, ...).
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, …). B200 : Materiality
in painting, but also with all other materials with the following possibilities: Structured with colours predominant
with their intrinsic or symbolic strength, (Monory's "blues", G.Fromanger's "reds") historical or social meaning etc., and their structuring, the colours here are the most important (Jules Olitsky, Peter Halley, ...).
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", ...).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, ...), ... C140 : towards the intellectual side/ the essence of things inward looking work chiefly oriented towards: fantasmagoric
fantasies of all types, be they sexual, social, religious or any other type, so long as there is formal mastery (from Georgia O'Keeffe to Annette Messager, through Clovis Trouille, ...).
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").D180 : tending towards the worldly by essentialised images, illustrations, caricatures, posters, reportages, ...
(J. Heartfield, R. Haussmann, G. Grosz, F. Masereel, E. Pignon Ernest, ...). D115 : via what is meant in various narrations or symbolisms whatever they may be
allegorical, metaphorical (J. Beuys' "materials", ...), analytical (Mario Merz's "Fibonacci series", or those of Robert Filliou, ...), critical (from Henri Cueco to Hans Haacke or Guillaume Bijl, ...).
BURNEL Philippe
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