'Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction' heads to Turner Contemporary
New Exhibition features the work of more than 50 female artists from across the globe
A major new exhibition which connects the work of more than 50 women from across the globe through a shared language of radical abstraction is heading to the Turner Contemporary in Margate.
‘Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950 – 1970’ is a group exhibition presenting abstraction as a radical global language shared by women artists in the 20 years following World War II.
Guest curated by Dr Flavia Frigeri, the exhibition examine how, through abstract forms, materials and modes, women pushed the boundaries of artmaking while tackling seismic cultural, social and political shifts.
From Saturday 3rd February – Monday 6th May 2024, the exhibition will comprise more than 80 artworks, predominantly sculpture, tracing how the language of abstraction developed on a global scale.
Featured artist include; Carla Accardi; Novera Ahmed; Ruth Asawa; Maria Bartuszová; Lynda Benglis; Louise Bourgeois; Maria Theresa Chojnacka; Lygia Clark; Saloua Raouda Choucair; Sue Fuller; Eva Hesse; Marisa Merz; Yuko Nasaka; Louise Nevelson; Mona Saudi; Lenore Tawney; Hedda Sterne; Hannah Wilke, and more.
Beyond Form will re-evaluate how art, gender and the act of making intersected in the post-WWII period, when men often eclipsed women’s artistic contributions. It will highlight the pioneering efforts of women artists in the development of abstraction, asserting their vital role in the discourse of the times.
In the 1950s and 1960s, women actively resisted the pressure to return to domestic roles, instead capitalising on their substantial wartime work experiences. By embracing abstraction, these artists leveraged a form of expression that resonated with the era’s proto-feminist sentiments.
Through employing techniques like hanging, stacking and weaving they subverted established art-craft hierarchies and challenged entrenched gender norms. Their innovative use of sculptural materials allowed them to investigate critical social topics and explore themes concerning the human form, political discourse and more.
Looking beyond the Western canon, Beyond Form will present abstraction as a constellation of interconnected stories. It will celebrate artists from Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, positioning them as central figures in the history of abstraction and will bring to light many works that have previously gone unseen.
Beyond Form is guest curated by Dr Flavia Frigeri, art historian and ‘Chanel Curator for the Collection’ at the National Portrait Gallery, London. At Turner Contemporary the exhibition is realised with Sarah Martin, Head of Exhibitions.
Dr Flavia Frigeri said: “There have been other exhibitions bringing together art by women from the post-war era, but what makes Beyond Form unique is connecting artists from across the globe through radical abstraction using forms and materials most recognisable in other contexts. We see a collection of artists who, at a surface level, are working in disparate locations, but are connected by a universal desire to express their personal, cultural, and political perspectives in ways that subvert the canon of the time.”
A publication with a new essay by Dr Flavia Frigeri will accompany the exhibition, published by Eiderdown Books.
Clarrie Wallis, Director of Turner Contemporary said: “Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950 – 1970 stands as a crucial global exploration of post-war abstraction, showcasing its multifaceted nature and its transformative impact on the language of sculpture. By liberating themselves from traditional constraints and embracing new materials, women artists were revolutionising the way they conveyed ideas through sculpture and ushering in a new era of creative expression.”
Sunley Gallery: Lynda Benglis
Saturday 3 February – Sunday 1 September 2024
To coincide with Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950 – 1970 Turner Contemporary will present three recent sculptures by Lynda Benglis in the Sunley Gallery. Born in 1941, Benglis is celebrated for carving out a unique space within the male-dominated art world, earning acclaim for her pioneering use of wax and poured latex. Her latest polished bronze sculptures, with their dynamic and fluid forms, continue to challenge perceptions of space. These evolved from her Elephant Necklaces, clay sculptures, digitally enlarged into bronze, underscoring her deep exploration of materiality and the transformative process of form.
Clore Learning Studio
Turner Contemporary is working with the participatory artist group Leap Then Look to bring an interactive exhibition to the Clore Learning Studio, alongside the Children’s Art Library and workshop programme. Making connections between the abstract sculptural works featured in Beyond Form, Leap Then Look are bringing tactile objects to the space for visitors of all ages and abilities to make their own sculptural works across different scales and materials. The exhibition encourages people to work together, inspiring playfulness, inquisitiveness and experimentation.
Leap Then Look will be delivering a Lacuna session for arts educators and teachers on ‘Collaborative Practice’ in the Clore Learning Studio on Friday 22 March 2024.
Leap Then Look was established in Spring 2019 by artists Lucy Cran and Bill Leslie. Since then, they have run participatory projects at institutions including Tate, Royal Academy, National Gallery, Towner Eastbourne, Compton Verney, and V&A. They are supported by Arts Council England.
