Incollect Magazine Issue 7

84 www.incollect.com Abstraction in art is usually understood to mean an artwork that does not attempt to portray something in the real world accurately, such as a person, place or thing, but instead relies on lines, colors and shapes to evoke an understanding, a sensation or a feeling. Abstract art varies greatly in degree and kind, with the determining factor of an abstract work of art being the level of independence from recognizable imagery. Abstract art has long been the favorite choice for architects and designers as well as anyone looking to decorate their homes with sleek modern interiors. The use of shapes and forms can effortlessly and beautifully compliment furniture as well as a range of decorative objects in a design scheme, frequently adding a pop of color to an otherwise minimal interior without being intrusive or, worse, a distraction. “Abstract art works so well with contemporary design as it sets the mood and tone of a room through color, patterns, and composition,” says designer Amy Lau, from Amy Lau Design, who often sources art for her clients. “For example, if I wanted a room to feel more energized I would lean toward colors that are upbeat and brighter with a composition that is more lively. To make a room feel more calming I would choose a piece of art that has less movement and is more subdued in color palette.” Abstract art also works in contemporary interiors because it often provides “a foil for other shapes in a room,” says designer Jeff Lincoln from Jeff Lincoln Art + Design in New York. “If you have very organic and curvy pieces then a hard edge abstraction of the kind by Al Held, say, works nicely. Conversely, in an interior with a lot of straight lines, the more riotous abstractions of a Jack Tworkov or a Carla Accardi work effectively. It’s primarily an issue of point and counterpoint in interior design.” Abstract art as we think of it today began in the late 19th and early 20th century in Europe with the pioneering efforts of a group of young painters interested in moving art away from realistic depiction in the wake of the invention of photography. French, Italian, and Spanish artists associated with Cubism, Fauvism, and Futurism embraced abstraction of a kind but so too did numerous Russian and German artists associated with art movements like Constructivism, Suprematism, die Brucke, and de Stijl. Asia has a longstanding tradition of abstraction in art which predates abstraction in Europe or America by centuries. The impetus here was often religious or mystical, something which the early Western abstract artists consciously embraced — Robert Motherwell, for example, was inspired by Chinese calligraphy, while Sam Francis took his inspiration from Zen Buddhism and Eastern philosophies. Today art that distances itself from any representational or referential depiction is commonplace and can be found anywhere in the world. But distinguishing between a meaningful abstract painting and decorative pictures of nothing is not always as easy as it might seem. Here we profile some of the abstract artists of the past few decades that we believe have expanded the boundaries of this popular, universal art style. WHAT IS ABSTRACT ART AND WHY IS IT SO POPULAR WITH INTERIOR DESIGNERS by Benjamin Genocchio ?