Page 74 - Studio International - May 1974

itself. Only the later work succeeds experimental statements was fitted exclusively eclectic and rejects penetrates deeper into the cavernous
in capturing the symbolic imagery of into the western social framework ; innovations. Starting from Rothko's entrails of the Museum. The final
metaphysical essences; the even the Jupe-Culotte and the and Barnett Newman's example, he series attains a height of about
outrageous nudity which is revealed Pyjama d'Intérieur were liberating has evolved clearer and more 20 feet and, on this scale, the enigma
in fangs, teeth and the murderous concepts — which rejected the geometric schemes ; and he treats itself becomes benignly irrelevent.
paraphernalia of any savage fetishism. harem's associations although their his secondary surfaces after Morris Significances crumble and the paint
The breakthrough occurred in the mid- formal aspect was undoubtedly Louis's manner. He employs what takes over when huge surfaces of the
sixties and it is curious how closely indebted to the Orient and its white Marcelin Pleynet, his indefatigable canvas exhibit the harmonious
connected it is with the trick of slavery. His uncanny foresight is champion, calls 'contaminated decorative features of misapplied art
introducing verbal legends into the displayed by one of the 1913 designs colours'. In fact, he exhibits mildly on such a grandiloquent scale. This is
composition. Indiana's beautifully which incorporates the military handsome, indeterminate pseudo- belle peinture, superimposed on a
allusive lettering inspires these title- uniform's severe geometry in a monochromes which display the central cartouche which has been
like pictorial mottoes but their use is utility-like outfit of staggering and directive traces of drip-lines. His gelded by the artist's self-advertising
allied to the Cubists' typographic untamed beauty. There are, however, control over these runs substitutes gesture. Not far from these autoerotic
collage elements —and it reproduces further grounds for attributing lasting textural variations for the brush altar-pieces, Warhol shows a series of
the concrete poetry implicit in the significance to his oeuvre. It is stroke's similarly rhythmic patterns pencil drawings which display his
image, subordinating the pictorial difficult to speak of the artist's and, by turning the canvas on its touchingly clumsy studies for the
content to the suggestive rhythmic necessary social consciousness head, he can illustrate oppositive wallpaper of the main halls.
formalities of the alphabet. Even the without introducing the hair-raising field of energy. However, his effects Coincidentally, at the Sonnabend
billboard's loud insistence contributes possibility of discredited doctrines are muted and decorative in the main. Gallery, Warhol tries to establish his
structural elements to the declamatory but it may be demanded that artists fame as a society portrait painter with
intent in Lindner's oeuvre. should be aware of a purposiveness similarly produced (but mercifully
in their calling ; that they should know smaller) likenesses of Hockney,
Paul Poiret would deserve a whom they address and why. In this Yves St. Laurent, lolas, Leo Castelli,
longish study. The commemorative sense at any rate Poiret's art showed Yolanda Sonnabend and others.
exhibition at the Musée Jacquemart a sense of responsibility almost
unique and certainly pioneering in its Niki de Saint Phalle shows her
André is historically at any rate one of
the most impressive demonstratively outlook. He established the Ecole beautifully playful and allusive
motivated services held anywhere Martine (named after one of his architectural models at the Iolas
at the moment. The objects on view are daughters) in 1911 —where the Gallery. The centre-piece is her
didactically conclusive in establishing children of the poor, mostly young Dragon maquette, designed for a
girls, often no more than twelve children's garden in Knokke-le-
fashion design as one of the major
years old, were taught to work in Zoute.
art forms of our period. Our value
complete freedom, reinterpreting only
judgments are historically determined
what they had seen during walks in Sam Szaffran is a French
and the preeminence of the
the neighbourhood. La Maison draughtsman and painter of
traditionally accepted major modes
Martine, established soon after, extraordinary accomplishment, at
may be challenged by what we have
realized and sold furniture, present on view at the Galerie
come to regard as the decorative
furnishings, feminine accessories Claude Bernard. A proud reactionary,
arts. Nor is this merely a modern
phenomenon. The thirteenth century's based often enough on designs he upholds academic virtues of the
evaluation of the fine arts was very prepared by the School's pupils. Nor Alain Jacquet Moveable elements ascetic kind. Perspectival stresses are
different from ours and there is no was this all. Poiret was involved in gold on red David's Star (felt) on the only note of individuality he
reason to suppose that our hierarchy much of what was outstanding in the mauve (felt pen/crayon) under spotlight contributes to the charcoal designs on
of categories is unchangeable. Le fine arts throughout this creative show. These illustrate variations
Corbusier's furniture designs are fit career. He did not see his profession The compositions have wilfully little played on a theme of staircase and
to prove the thesis that chairs, for as a separable tendency and he to show for the excessive amount of studio roof which have sufficient
instance, can vie with sculpture on overcame the isolation that so often thinking which has gone into them force to convey a claustrophobic
the sculpture's own terms, for besets experimentation. The (their main features are listed in a space. His craftsmanship is at its
Jacquemart-André exhibition shows most impressive in counterpointing
aesthetic merit. Poiret's contribution whole booklet which is meant to
his triumph in context. His the vectorial forces of the corrugated
is similarly impressive and his triumph introduce Devade's principles). It is
association with Kees van Dongen iron surfaces with their supporting
has only the remotest connexion with difficult to understand how a man of
produced masterpieces and they are struts, but his drawings are without
what we have learnt to call Body Art. Pleynet's extremist views can detect
on view. His friendship with Dufy the professional content of passion or
His was, nevertheless, the body's a new avant-garde's arrival in these
resulted in a series of textile designs commitment which could create a
art; but it was a good deal more than tired works which repeat merely an
which could help to justify an sustained interest in them. They are,
that as well. He liberated and created echo of the past's revolutionary
independent-seeming admiration for too complacently dedicated to the
true beauty. It is debatable whether slogans. Devade highlights the
the painted abstractions of the fifties illusory idea of a status quo.
life or woman was his raw material ; indicatives of dark, polluting
and sixties. It would be idle to
the two terms are, in any case, substances but surely even the
pretend that Poiret's attitude towards
synonymous—for men. He changed deliberate stain is without the Alain Jacquet (also at CNAC) is
materials did not influence our
the image of the female; freed her allegorical force to identify the social given an opportunity to demonstrate
reaction to the orchestration of self-
body of constraint and did away with questions which Pleynet discovers in a sculptural idea executed on the
sufficient colours and forms. Even
corsets, artifice and whalebone. these works. miniature's terms— for mystic reasons.
our responsiveness towards the line
Accepted the reality and transmuted Fortunately, no one has bothered It comprises four infinitesimal golden
it not merely into a statuesque is almost certainly modified by his to make explicitly political claims for emblems whose magic properties are
concept; he invested elegance itself harshly linear use of embroidered Andy Warhol's art. Thus, no one will yet to be attested. They are picked out
with the movingly architectural force verticals and horizontals. What a pity misunderstand the innocence of his by a shaft of light as they repose on a
of the column which supported an that we have only a modest catalogue Mao exhibition at the Musée red felt David's Star — which, in its own
to record such a splendid occasion.
ideal and moved. His triumph Galliera. The prepacked idea has turn, is superimposed on a mauve
coincides with a period which has For once, the lavish proportions of the been one of his staple ingredients for felt pentagon. The artificially
seen the ultimate flowering of the expensive publication would have many an overlong decade, and Mao's maintained darkness of its surrounds
grand manner and he carried its been preferable (even though the wisely sagging cheeks fit his aims is hardly calculated to enhance the
spirit from one age, across the great basic facts are available in the admirably enough. Room after room material impact of the composition
inexpensive booklet.)
gap of World War One, into another. is filled with serial sequences of the and its Oriental airs of superstition
His stylistic innovations paralleled Chairman's likeness, silkscreened and are left unexplained. It remains to be
the revolutionary tendencies shown Marc Devade (at the Galerie rather elegantly bedaubed with said that Jacquet's is a high
by music, painting and sculpture. His Templon) continues the exploration passages of dayglo paint, chiefly in seriousness which commands respect;
vision was reinforced by borrowings of the minimalism implied in banner reds and greens. The walls themselves and the silence with which he has
and adaptations taken from distant painting. He posits balances arranged are papered over with the emblematic invested his statement is, somehow,
cultures and he exploited their around an expanded and mostly emblem : a childish portrait drawing, part of its elusive fabric. This much,
vitality to infuse fire into his own central band of white. His work is reproduced lithographically. The at any rate, is an achievement.
colours and lines. Each one of his intellective in the extreme. It is also image grows in scale as the visitor R. C. Kenedy