In the years 1931-1937, an international network in Paris fought for the freedom of art and against fascism: the Abstraction-Création group, which had up to 90 members in a changing line-up. Among them were Hans (Jean) Arp and Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Alexander Calder, Barbara Hepworth and Piet Mondrian. This exhibition at the Arp Museum is the first on this pioneering association since the 1970s.
While nationalist movements were spreading throughout Europe, Paris, the center of the avant-garde, was developing into a last refuge. As there was practically no market for abstract art, the Abstraction-Création group felt compelled to create autonomous organizational structures independent of the salons and galleries. Cross-generational, liberal, progressive and visionary, it advocates the unification of all non-objective movements. The exhibition shows the range from strict compositions and purist grids of lines to lively, vibrant, organic-looking interplays of forms. Seven international contemporary positions demonstrate the topicality of the theme.
Exhibited artists from the Abstraction-Création group
Hans (Jean) Arp, Willi Baumeister, Etienne Beothy, Max Bill, Alexander Calder, Robert Delaunay, Theo van Doesburg, Otto Freundlich, Naum Gabo, Laure Garcin, Albert Gleizes, Jean Gorin, Jean Hélion, Barbara Hepworth, Auguste Herbin, Mainie Jellett, František Kupka, Bart van der Leck, László Moholy-Nagy, Piet Mondrian, Marlow Moss, Kurt Schwitters, Henryk Stażewski, Władysław Strzemiński, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Georges Vantongerloo, Paule Vézelay, Friedrich Vordemberge-Gildewart
Contemporary positions
Rana Begum, Angela Bulloch, Daniel Buren, Imi Knoebel, Timo Nasseri, Kai Schiemenz, Beat Zoderer
Price information:
Adults: €12, concessions €9 From December 1, 2024, the admission ticket (purchased in advance from the online store) will be valid at no extra charge as a combined ticket for the day-bound, free return journey on all buses and local trains in the Rhine-Moselle Transport Association (VRM) in second class. Family ticket: €18, can be purchased via the museum's online store