AUSTIN/DESMOND FINE ART

PRESS RELEASE

ABSTRACTION-CREATION Post-War Geometric Abstract Art from Europe and South America

8 SEPT – 6 OCT 2010 Private View 7 SEPT, 6.30 – 8.30 pm

Austin/Desmond Fine Art, London is delighted to present Abstraction-Creation, an exhibition uniting twenty-nine abstract artists from South America and Europe.

The title Abstraction-Creation refers to the European abstract art movement of the same name founded by Theo van Doesburg in Paris in 1931. This somewhat loose association of artists increasingly looked towards geometric abstraction and concrete art. Although many of the artists in this exhibition moved away from Van Doesburg’s notion of geometric abstraction, they all championed a purely non-representational abstract art that was not derived from observed reality and began with the idea that abstract art is the search for the absolute and the struggle for pure meaning.

This exhibition brings together works by early European modern masters such as Max Bill, Josef Albers and Victor Vasarely along with later proponents of Concretism in South America including Hélio Oiticica, Lygia Clark and the lesser know figures, Judith Lauand, Lothar Charoux and Geraldo de Barros. This exhibition also displays early works by British Constructivist artists such as Anthony Hill and Kenneth and Mary Martin who further explored geometric abstract art through the use of mathematical theories and the juxtaposition of modular forms.

Although geographically and historically disparate, all of these artists looked to abstraction with renewed fervour in the post-war era and saw it as a mode of expression that made a clean break away from the restraints of subjective representation.

A variety of works, ranging from three dimensional sculptures, to paintings, photography, collage, works on paper and journals will be on display.

Recent years have seen a new widespread interest and appreciation of Latin American art. The inauguration of Latin America’s most prestigious art fair, Pinta, in London for the first time in June 2010 is a reminder of this.

A fully illustrated catalogue will be available.

For more information and high-resolution images please contact Emily Austin or Laura Harford on: +44 (0) 20 7242 4443 [email protected] ; [email protected] Images: Geraldo de Barros: Pampulha, São Paulo, Brazil, [From the Series Fotoforma], 1949; Lygia Clark: Caranguejo [From the Bichos Series], 1963; Mary Martin, Permutation in Black and White, 1965 ,

Austin/Desmond Fine Art Pied Bull Yard, 68-69 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3BN Opening hours: Mon – Fri 10.30 – 17.30, T: +44 (0) 20 7242 4443 F: +44 (0) 20 7404 4480 Sat 11.00 – 14.30 E: [email protected], www.austindesmond.com Nearest Tube: Holborn, Tottenham Court Road