An open expression of emotions, autobiographical elements, literary references, psychology, sexuality, and sensuality in a captivating storyline quickly and strongly depicted on canvas. With a lot of intensity and subjectivity. That is neo-expressionism (1979-1985) in a nutshell. Modern artists - with a strong personal signature - who shake up the art scene worldwide by bringing back figurative, expressionist painting. They turn away from recent abstract and conceptual trends and express personal feelings and thoughts.
'On large canvases, they start telling a story again, with a powerful, sometimes even aggressive expression.'
As proven by Newton's third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Just as the Impressionists wanted more attention to personal experience in response to the realistic representation within realism. Dadaism is an artistic protest that mocks the prevailing haughty norms and values in the art scene. And neo-expressionism rebels against the highly thoughtful, calculated approach of minimalism (minimal art) and conceptual art from the 1960s and 1970s.
No clear art movement Neo-expressionism also underscores the beginning of contemporary art, where no clear art movements can be found anymore. From around 1980, art becomes much more dynamic, eclectic, and diverse. We still recognize global trends, influences, and developments, but painters and sculptors work much more autonomously. They are closer to a often selective audience that wants to feel connected or identify with the artist's ideas and work.
Thanks to the emergence of new media, all rules disappear. Anything goes. Every discipline can be used and combined to capture an idea or feeling. As a lawful reaction, this evokes a melancholic desire in some painters for pure painting, for working intuitively and directly from imagination. On large canvases, they start telling a story again; with a powerful, sometimes even aggressive expression. They deliberately want to shock, are tumultuous in their forms and use of color. The work is eccentric, eclectic, subjective, and has many literary references. Political engagement, influence of mass or subculture, emotion, and irony become important again.
'The generously applied brushstrokes are clearly visible, raw, and show drips.'
The intensity literally bursts from the canvas. The generously applied brushstrokes are clearly visible, raw, and show drips. Although representatives of neo-expressionism embrace the energetic, spontaneous painting process of the expressionists again, they are - fitting into the zeitgeist - mostly hybrid artists. For example, photographer and painter Peter Klashorst, together with interdisciplinary artist and television maker Maarten Ploeg, also plays in a New Wave band. Both are studying at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy at that time and are closely associated with the neo-expressionism known in the Netherlands as the New Painting.
Passion and brutality
In Germany, neo-expressionist artists often choose serious, heavy subjects. With the same passion and provocation with which punk shocks the world of pop music, they react to life in the former G.D.R. and recent political events from history. They are called Die Neue Wilden and are the most fanatic group within this genre.
Italian neo-expressionists - renamed Trans-avantgardists by art critic Achille Bonito Oliva - keep it lighter and more playful. They go back to earlier traditions. They restore nostalgic figuration and symbolism, as well as authentic emotion and, above all, the joy that cultural life in Italy is rich in. With a more mocking visual language. The American variant, Bad Painting, also has a sharply satirical undertone.
'Basquiat creates expressive, colorful works in acrylic over which he adds line drawings and texts with oil-paintstick.' The largest concentration of all international movements that can be linked to neo-expressionism is in Europe. However, the American Jean-Michel Basquiat - originally a graffiti artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent - is perhaps the most famous name. With his tags spread across Manhattan in the late 1970s, he criticizes society and especially the racism that still grips America. Basquiat creates expressive, colorful works in acrylic over which he adds line drawings and texts with oil-paintstick. The prematurely deceased talent (27 years old) is also known for his collaboration with Andy Warhol. In 2017, one of his paintings (from 1982) is sold for 110.5 million dollars.
Destruction vs. construction
In certain aspects, Vhils, aka Alexandre Farto, is reminiscent of Basquiat. He is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable street artists of our time. Like him, he wants to make the public aware that transformation is essential and believes that destruction is a form of construction. With both his murals and paintings, he draws the spectator in and makes them think.
Like Robson Reismarques, he is a master of figurative contemporary art. Both know how to strike the right chord with an explosion of emotion, urgency, and exceptional beauty. In completely different ways, their work is penetrating, complex, poetic, and ambitious.
Visit AbrahamArt in Amsterdam or Eindhoven to see the paintings of these internationally recognized prodigies and other established names. The gallery houses original works by many popular artists.
'Both know how to strike the right chord with an explosion of emotion, urgency, and exceptional beauty.'
Buying, borrowing, or renting art is good for health. Both physically and mentally. Art stimulates our happiness hormones. Regardless of execution, form, or recognizability, looking at art promotes the production of dopamine and endorphins.
The best way to assess a work of art remains the place for which it is ultimately intended, which is why any trial placements can be arranged for free and without obligation. AbrahamArt works with a beautiful art leasing formula, a combination of renting and saving for individuals. For the business market, an attractive art lease
