MIXED MEDIA SCULPTURE and ASSEMBLAGE:
Marcel Duchamp coined the terms "Readymade" and "Assisted Readymades"; readymades are mass produced objects selected and/or modified for display as an art object. Duchamp is credited for being the father of this genre. Bicycle Wheel was Duchamp's first readymade created in 1913. Pablo Picasso also worked with readymades. In the 1950's Robert Rauchenburg coined the term "Combine" to describe his combined use of painting and 3-dimensional objects. The origin of the term "Assemblage", meaning a mix of two and three-dimensional media, is attributed to Jean Dubuffet.
The pivotal exhibition "The Art of Assemblage" was presented at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1961. William Seitz curated this exhibition showcasing the work of early twentieth century European artists such as Braque, Dubuffet, Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Kurt Schwitters, and Salvador Dali alongside Americans Man Ray, Joseph Cornell and Robert Rauschenberg as well as American West Coast assemblage artists such as George Herms, Bruce Conner and Edward Kienholz. In the exhibition catalog Seitz described this new form of art to be "1. assembled rather than painted, drawn, modeled or carved, 2.entirely or in part their constituent elements are preformed natural or manufactured materials, objects, or fragments not intended as art materials." The use of these objects "incorporate reality without imitating it".
The art movements Nouveau Realisme (France 1960's), Arte Povera (Italy 1960's), and Fluxus (Fluxkits in particular, U.S. 1960's and 70's) commonly utilized found objects.
This type of work has returned to the forefront of contemporary art as seen in the New Museum's 2007 inaugural exhibition: "Unmonumental: The Object in the 21st Century" and in the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's 2007 exhibition "The Uncertainty of Objects and Ideas: Recent Sculpture". Contemporary artists presented in these exhibitions include Isa Genzken, Mark Handforth, Rachel Harrison, Evan Holloway, Mindy Shapero, Franz West, Urs Fischer, Carol Bove, Gedi Sebony, Shinique Smith, Jim Lambie and John Bock.
Art Students - give this type of sculpture a try especially if you are not familiar with many sculpture tools and techniques. There is a limitless range of material possibilities, some examples are records, eyeglasses, combs, computer parts, clothing, drinking straws and so on. Consider the inherent meaning or symbolism of this media. In terms of fabrication, try seeing what the particular material can do. What are the possibilities and limitations especially in regards to the use of multiples of a given material? What ways of organizing the materials will create a pattern or form? Consider both man made and natural materials.
The pivotal exhibition "The Art of Assemblage" was presented at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1961. William Seitz curated this exhibition showcasing the work of early twentieth century European artists such as Braque, Dubuffet, Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Kurt Schwitters, and Salvador Dali alongside Americans Man Ray, Joseph Cornell and Robert Rauschenberg as well as American West Coast assemblage artists such as George Herms, Bruce Conner and Edward Kienholz. In the exhibition catalog Seitz described this new form of art to be "1. assembled rather than painted, drawn, modeled or carved, 2.entirely or in part their constituent elements are preformed natural or manufactured materials, objects, or fragments not intended as art materials." The use of these objects "incorporate reality without imitating it".
The art movements Nouveau Realisme (France 1960's), Arte Povera (Italy 1960's), and Fluxus (Fluxkits in particular, U.S. 1960's and 70's) commonly utilized found objects.
This type of work has returned to the forefront of contemporary art as seen in the New Museum's 2007 inaugural exhibition: "Unmonumental: The Object in the 21st Century" and in the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden's 2007 exhibition "The Uncertainty of Objects and Ideas: Recent Sculpture". Contemporary artists presented in these exhibitions include Isa Genzken, Mark Handforth, Rachel Harrison, Evan Holloway, Mindy Shapero, Franz West, Urs Fischer, Carol Bove, Gedi Sebony, Shinique Smith, Jim Lambie and John Bock.
Art Students - give this type of sculpture a try especially if you are not familiar with many sculpture tools and techniques. There is a limitless range of material possibilities, some examples are records, eyeglasses, combs, computer parts, clothing, drinking straws and so on. Consider the inherent meaning or symbolism of this media. In terms of fabrication, try seeing what the particular material can do. What are the possibilities and limitations especially in regards to the use of multiples of a given material? What ways of organizing the materials will create a pattern or form? Consider both man made and natural materials.
Common Hardware and Adhesives:
Wire
Thread
Rivets
Nails and screws
5 minute epoxy (Always look for adhesives produced for a specific media such as glass, metal or wood)
Weldbond
Selected Texts:
The Art of Assemblage by William Seitz 1968
Arte Povera: Movements in Modern Art by Robert Lumley 2005
Unmonumental by Laura Hoptman, Richard Flood, Massimiliano Gioni and Trevor Smith 2007
The Uncertainty of Objects and Ideas: Recent Sculpture by Anne Ellegood and Johanna Burton. Hirshhorn 2007
The Uncertainty of Objects and Ideas: Recent Sculpture by Anne Ellegood and Johanna Burton. Hirshhorn 2007
Second Lives Remixing the Ordinary, Museum of Arts and Design Exhibition Catalog 2008
Selected Mixed Media Artists: Marcel DuChamp, Pablo Picasso, Arman, Tara Donovan, Tom Friedman, Ed and Nancy Kienholz, Isa Genzkin, Elliott Hundley, Mike Kelly, Sarah Lucas, Robert Rauchenburg, Nancy Rubins, John Salvest, Jean Shin, Shinique Smith, Dan Steinhilber
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| Marcel Duchamp, Bicycle Wheel, 1913 |
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| Salvador Dali, Retrospective Bust of a Woman, 1933 |
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| Robert Rauschenburg, Monogram, 1955-59 |
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| Edward Kienholz, Wait, 1964-5 |
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| Michelangelo Pistoletto, Venere Delgi Stracci, 1967 |
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| Damien Hirst, The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, 1991 |
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| Sarah Lucas, Bunny, 1997 |
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| Tara Donovan, Untitled, 2003 (styrofoam cups) |
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| Isa Genzken, Elephant, 2006 |
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| John Bock, Gate, 2009 |
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