The Abstract Revolution of Female Artists: “Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950-1970".

In the post-World War II era, as the world grappled with seismic cultural shifts, a radical language of abstraction emerged in the art world. Turner Contemporary exhibition Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950-1970 delves into this transformative period, spotlighting over 50 women artists who reshaped the boundaries of artmaking through radical abstraction.

Curated by Dr. Flavia Frigeri, Beyond Form unites the works of female artists such as Carla Accardi, Lynda Benglis, Louise Bourgeois, and many others, traversing geographical and cultural divides to unveil a shared narrative of innovation and resistance. The exhibition, running from 3^rd of February to 6^th of May 2024, offers a profound exploration of how women artists utilised abstract forms, materials, and techniques to challenge established norms and convey their personal, cultural, and political perspectives.

Disparate Locations, Universal Perspectives

Dr. Frigeri emphasises the significance of this exhibition in connecting artists from diverse backgrounds through radical abstraction. She notes, Beyond Form presents “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.”

The exhibition transcends the Western canon, celebrating artists from Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Works by artists such as Marisa Merz, Louise Nevelson, and Ewa Pachucka offer fresh perspectives on abstraction, shedding light on previously overlooked works and highlighting the vital contributions of women to the history of art.

Eastern European Textile Innovators

Among the Eastern European artists featured in Beyond Form are Maria Teresa Chojnacka and Ewa Pachucka, whose fibre art symbolises resistance and liberation from state censorship or monitoring.

Polish artist Maria Teresa Chojnacka emerged in the mid-1960s, crafting woven sculptures from raw sisal, drawing on traditional techniques. Despite textile art’s marginalisation, Chojnacka, along with artists like Ewa Pachucka, found freedom in this medium, avoiding censorship under Poland’s communist rule.

Ewa Pachucka shaped the post-war artistic textile scene with her distinctive spatial, three-dimensional forms crafted from hemp-cords, jute, and sisal. While her works were deeply rooted in the craft of weaving, she transcended mere decorativeness in favour of bold formal experimentation. 

Additionally, the exhibition highlights Mária Bartuszová’s overlooked sculptures, characterised by her unique method of plaster casting and intimate connection to nature. Daniela Vinopalová’s distinctive contributions to Czech sculpture are also showcased, revealing her distinctive style of expression and larger symbolic meaning.

Reshaping Gendered Art Narratives

At the heart of Beyond Form lies a re-evaluation of the intersection of art, gender, and societal norms in the mid-20th century. Women artists, buoyed by their wartime experiences, defied societal expectations by embracing abstraction as a means of expression that resonated with the era’s proto-feminist sentiments. Through innovative techniques such as hanging, stacking, and weaving, they challenged entrenched hierarchies and expanded the discourse on art and gender.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is the inclusion of select paintings and reliefs, including Carmen Herrera’s “East” (1965) and Agnes Martin’s “Morning” (1965), which enrich our understanding of this transformative artistic period.

Sculptural Innovations And Engaging Experiences

In conjunction with Beyond Form, Turner Contemporary will showcase three recent sculptures by Lynda Benglis, whose dynamic forms challenge perceptions of space and materiality. Additionally, the Clore Learning Studio will host an interactive exhibition by Leap Then Look, inviting visitors of all ages and abilities to engage with abstract sculptural works through tactile exploration and experimentation.

As Clarrie Wallis, Director of Turner Contemporary, aptly summarises, “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.”With its groundbreaking insights and celebration of female artistic innovation, Beyond Form promises to convey the enduring power of abstraction in shaping our understanding of art and society.

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Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950-1970

Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK

3.02 – 6.05.2024

Curator: Dr. Flavia Frigeri

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