#british constructivism

[shefeld]

Chance Order Change 24 History Painting A (1982) by Kenneth Martin born. sheffield 1905/ died. london 1984. (graves art gallery, sheffield, may 19)

[4eternal-life]

Victor Pasmore (British, 1908–1998)

Abstract in White, Green, Black, Blue, Red, Grey and Pink, c. 1963

abstract relief sculpture | perspex and painted wood

© estate of Victor Pasmore / DACS 2018 | © Tate, London

[4eternal-life]

...The British Constructivists were an unofficial group of abstract artists with shared interests who were inspired in part by the ideals of Russian Constructivism. In 1951 British artist Kenneth Martin published an article entitled ‘Abstract Art’ in the publication Broadsheet No. 1: Devoted to Abstract Art in which he described the work of this emerging circle of abstract artists. He characterised the new constructed work as an ‘object which is real and not illusional in that it sets out to represent no object outside [itself], but to contain within itself the force of its own nature.’

Victor Pasmore (1908-98) was a leading figurehead among the emerging constructed abstract artists in post-war Britain. He was however less theoretically radical than the others, and was the only one without a strong preoccupation with mathematics.

Kenneth Martin (1905 – 1984) and his wife Mary Martin (1907 – 1969) are the best-known of the core constructivists. Their teaching methods had a long-lasting impact and a unifying influence on the development of the other artists in the group...

[4eternal-life]

Victor Pasmore  (British, 1908-1998)

Abstract in White, Black and Maroon: Peterlee, 1959

oil on panel and Perspex, 46 x 46 x 26.6 cm

[4eternal-life]

John Ernest  (American, 1922 – 1994)

Mosaic Relief No. 4 , 1966

Aluminium and plastic laminate on wood , 1067 x 1372 x 73 mm

© Paul & Susan Ernest  /  © Tate, London 2017 

[4eternal-life]

Mary Martin  (British, 1907-1969)

Black Relief , 1957–66

Wood, hardboard and plastic,  764 x 1140 x 148 mm

© Estate of Mary Martin / DACS 2017

© Tate, London 2017

Black Relief  is constructed from squares and rectangles arranged in two rows on the upper and lower halves of a backing board. The uppermost surface of each block is finished in black perspex. The layers of the relief are painted in different colours, beginning with matt black, furthest from the spectator, followed by grey, ochre and red. 

The depth of the blocks varies, allowing some colours to remain visible as either surfaces or as the thickness of the relief. Apart from perspex Martin has used both the smooth and textured faces of hardboard to give variety to the surfaces. Both the colour and the layers, or folds, of the construction serve to emphasise movement within the spatial patterning of the work. 

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