*
 
 
 
* * *
*
* *
Artists A-Z:

Including:
David Hier
Susan Hippe
Marina Zobova
....and many other original artists.

* *
*
*
* * *
*
 
 
 
 
 
*
*   * * *
* Words: David Hier
* *
*
Kandinsky Exhibition
* *
* * * *
         
* * * * * * *
           
*

Kandinsky: The Path to Abstraction 1908 - 1922

Blue Segment by Wassily Kandinsky, Oil on Canvas [1921].

*Blue Segment by Wassily Kandinsky, Oil on Canvas [1921].

Start: 22nd June 2006
End: 1st October 2006

Following on from a recent Albers and Moholy-Nagy show, this exhibition is a continuation of Tate Modern's celebration of Modernism and the impact it's had on Western art.

Focusing on artworks from 1908-1922 this will be the first major UK exhibition of paintings by Wassily Kandinsky. The exhibition begins with Kandinsky's early figurative and landscape paintings, moving on to later works, which evolved to become ever more geometric and abstract.

From around 1910 onwards, Kandinsky's growing fascination with abstracted form and colour dominated almost all of his future artworks. These paintings are the main focus of this exhibition, supporting the view that Kandinsky could be considered to be the founder of non-representational painting.

As a pioneer of abstract art Kandinsky often faced harsh criticism from both the art world and the general public. Kandinsky subsequently became a prolific writer on the theory behind abstract art. Initially these writings drew heavily on the fields of theosophy and anthroposophy, reflecting Kandinsky's belief that his paintings were manifestations of a new spirituality. Kandinsky also believed that the purity of his geometric compositions expressed a personal form of mystic salvation, delivering him from the depersonalising industrialisation of European society.

In spite of Kandinsky's apprehension about the modern world and his romantic belief in individualism, his theoretic writings and enthusiasm for objective abstract art earned him a position at the Bauhaus.

Although some of his ideas jarred with the philosophy of the Bauhaus, Kandinsky was associated with the school until 1933. As a respected
Blue Segment by Wassily Kandinsky, Oil on Canvas [1921].

**White Centre by Wassily Kandinsky, Oil on Canvas [1921].

tutor Kandinsky taught modules on Analytic Drawing, as well as Abstract Elements of Form. Kandinsky also taught Free Paining alongside fellow tutor Paul Klee.

One thing that this exhibition makes especially clear is that Kandinsky's pioneering development of abstract art has substantially enriched the art world. His practices and and theoretical writings have paved the way for modern art, influencing successive generations artists. Without the endeavours of Kandinsky, modern art would be very different indeed and contemporary artists and designers owe this master of the abstract a great debt.

This exhibition features more than 50 paintings and 30 works on paper, many of which have never been exhibited in the UK before. With so many examples of this Modernist master's work on show, this exhibition represents an un-missable opportunity to view some of the best modern art to be seen.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a full colour, illustrated catalogue with contributions from Shulamith Behr, Bruno Haas, Noemi Smolik and Reinhard Zimmermann.

This exhibition is supported by Tate Members, with additional support from Access Industries.

Kandinsky: The Path to Abstraction 1908 - 1922, and will be held on Level 4 of Tate Modern until the 1st of October 2006.

Open every day from 10.00am - 06.00pm [late night opening until 10.00pm on Friday and Saturday].

Admission: £10 [ £8 concessions]

Secure booking at www.tate.org.uk or call +44 [0] 20 7887 8888

For more information:

[Note: The exhibition will go on display at the Kunstmuseum, Basel from the 21st of October 2006 until the 4th of February 2007.]

<< Back to News Page

* * *Top Of Page *

Also Recommended

Modernism: Designing a New World 1914 - 1939.

This exhibition offers an excellent introduction to the pioneering work of Modernist artists, designers and architects. The exhibitions is being held at the V & A in London and runs until the 23rd of July 2006.

For more details visit www.vam.ac.uk

*Blue Segment by Wassily Kandinsky [1921], Oil on Canvas, 120.6 x 140.1 cm. Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York. © ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2006.

**White Centre by Wassily Kandinsky, Oil on Canvas [1921], 118.7 x 136.5 cm. Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York, Hilla Rebay Collection 1971. © ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2006 .

*
* * *
* * *
*
*
         
         
Gallery