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 attended art school in Nice, and in Paris, he studied at 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, keys and similar items in ink and printing them on paper. During this process, Arman increasingly focused on the individual, pre-formed object. This led to the creation of dustbins or wastepaper baskets made of used products from our consumer goods industry. These were then followed by welded accumulations of similar objects, such as radio tubes, cogwheels or ampoules - mostly within Plexiglas boxes. 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 lies in 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.

In 1964, Arman received the 2nd prize at the Tokyo Biennale and in 1966, the Marzotto Grand Prize. 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.

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