https://ideelart.com/blogs/magazine/the-role-of-biomorphic-shapes-in-abstract-art?srsltid=AfmBOopCeeM-oD8Q6Fp93LSwY9hbbUw21RIsz8z_d37p_Tx-OVPjzP14
https://ideelart.com/blogs/magazine/the-role-of-biomorphic-shapes-in-abstract-art?srsltid=AfmBOopCeeM-oD8Q6Fp93LSwY9hbbUw21RIsz8z_d37p_Tx-OVPjzP14
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Responses
Alfred H. Barr, the catalogue for that exhibition defined biomorphism as, “Curvilinear rather than rectilinear, decorative rather than structural and romantic rather than classical in its exaltation of mystical, the spontaneous and the irrational.”
I did not understand this quote at all.
My take on this is that Barr is referring to the way the natural world, while following various blue prints (effectively following a broadly scientific approach) has variability causing a lack of definition. I think of say ten seeds of the same species planted at the same time in, seemingly, identical circumstances of soil, temperature, moisture content etc – the seedlings that pop out from the soil will have a great deal of similarity to each other yet each will be unique. This uniqueness, I think Barr is saying, gives rise to the romantic rather than classical thinking in which ideas and observations are viewed from an instinctive rather than scientific or empirical stance.
I was trained as a scientist and worked as one for 28 years and finding art in my 60’s draws me towards the abstract and, since my scientific background was primarily biology, especially biomorphism.
Embryology is particularly interesting in this respect since when the embryo is forming each cell has a bearing on what the next cell will become so, fro example, an inner kidney cell will (be means of chemical gradients) influence the next outer cell and so on until a certain (approximate) mass is obtained and the next cell will be a different type of cell – it’s an amazing feat of nature but even more so when we realise the ‘blueprint’ is actually only a guide and not absolute so no two kidneys are identical – yet each looks like a kidney.
Not sure if that helps and feels a little cumbersome 🙂