hoffmann

rational concepts

norman dilworth, anthony hill, malcolm hughes, peter lowe, kenneth martin, jeffrey steele, gillian wise

1977

silk screen on paper

60 × 60 cm
1′ 11 1016″ × 1′ 11 1016

edition hoffmann

edition of 100 + 30 e.d’a.

signed, dated and numbered

7-part portfolio


publisher: edition hoffmann, lydia megert

text: richard paul lohse

design/layout: rudolf mattes

printer: edition hoffmann

7000 € incl. VAT

the development of constructive or rational art in england and on the continent has been determined by two different sets of factors. while in europe the evolution was dominated by the latent presence of dutch and russian constructivism, england could not benefit from these movements to the same extent. although the example of mondrian seems geographically near its parallels and its effects remained sparse. hepworth, moss, nicholson initiated a new tendency in english art. although moholy emigrated to london in 1935, gabo lived there from 1935 to 1942, as did mondrian from 1938 until his departure for the usa, and herbert read functioned as an important propagandist, the results were individual and without foundation. it was not until long after the war that a solid basis for the constructive movement began to form itself.

the english version of constructive art is characterized by a pronounced projective consciousness. it differs from the rigorous planar tectonics of continental constructive art in that the visual syntax is here often determined by its double planar-spatial aspect, almost as in a mathematical diagram. this is offset by the recurrent tendency to control the realization of a creative concept by means of numerical systems whose formal progressions can be experientially confirmed. it is remarkable that none of the artists in the english group has followed up experiments concerned with the identification of the elements from which a figure is constructed with the format of the constructed figure itself. their mode of construction is typified rather by the combination of prefabricated modules according to a projective system. one is also frequently surprised by the dominance of line as the agent which motivates their rhythmical angulations and refractions. another revealing characteristic is their thinking in terms of elements of volume as a collective theme. this is equally significant with regard to the exemplary and to the didactic intentions of this work.

the differing trends and emphases within the group are unified by a common aim, which is to use the various objectifying devices and techniques that belong exclusively to the present historical period in order to arrive at an integrated expression, a necessary art form commensurate with a human form of society.

richard paul lohse, 1977

works

ohne titel

norman dilworth

untitled

1977

original-silkscreen on paper

60 × 60 cm
1′ 11 1016″ × 1′ 11 1016

edition hoffmann

edition of 100 + 20 e.d’a.

inquire

ohne titel

anthony hill

untitled

1977

original-silkscreen on paper

60 × 60 cm
1′ 11 1016″ × 1′ 11 1016

edition hoffmann

edition of 100 + 20 e.d’a.

inquire

ohne titel

malcolm hughes

untitled

1977

original-silkscreen on paper

60 × 60 cm
1′ 11 1016″ × 1′ 11 1016

edition hoffmann

edition of 100 + 20 e.d’a.

inquire

ohne titel

peter lowe

untitled

1977

original-silkscreen on paper

60 × 60 cm
1′ 11 1016″ × 1′ 11 1016

edition hoffmann

edition of 100 + 20 e.d’a.

inquire

ohne titel

kenneth martin

untitled

1977

original-silkscreen on paper

60 × 60 cm
1′ 11 1016″ × 1′ 11 1016

edition hoffmann

edition of 100 + 20 e.d’a.

inquire

sg v 2

jeffrey steele

sg v 2

1977

original-silkscreen on paper

60 × 60 cm
1′ 11 1016″ × 1′ 11 1016

edition hoffmann

edition of 100 + 20 e.d’a.

inquire

ohne titel

gillian wise

untitled

1977

original-silkscreen on paper

60 × 60 cm
1′ 11 1016″ × 1′ 11 1016

edition hoffmann

edition of 100 + 20 e.d’a.

inquire

supported by the federal minister for culture and media, neustart kultur and stiftung kunstfonds

Gefördert von der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
Gefördert durch Neustart Kultur
Gefördert von der Stiftung Kunstfonds