Arman
1928-2005
Arman (real name Armand Fernandez) was born in Nice, France in 1928 and died in New York in 2005. The French object artist is one of the most important members and co-founders of the group "Nouveaux Réalistes".
Arman studied the art school in Nice, in Paris, the École du Louvre and the École National des Arts Décoratifs. His object paintings were exhibited in many European cities.
Arman was an early friend of Yves Klein. He began by dipping objects such as chains, cans and keys in ink and printing them on paper. During this process, Arman increasingly focused on the individual, pre-formed object. Thus, dustbins or wastepaper baskets were created made of used products of our consumer goods industry. These were then followed by welded accumulations of similar objects, such as vacuum tubes, cogwheels or ampoules - mostly within Plexiglas cases. Arman operates with the given material like a painter with brush and paint. He composes, but also leaves eminent room for chance.
The unique character of Arman's works consists of the fusion of objects and portraits from the world of music and technology. He is a virtuoso master of the gift of making music visible.
Arman was awarded the 2nd prize at the Tokyo Biennale in 1964 and the Marzotto Grand Prize in 1966. In 1968, he was teaching at the University of California (UCLA). In the same year, his artwork was also represented at the Venice Biennale and the documenta in Kassel, Germany. His famous paintings and sculptures can be found in all major art capitals.
