| Spatialism - The History | | | | couple. According to 'Manifesto Blanco,' Spatialism |
| In 1946, famous Argentinean sculptor and painter | | | | was conceptualized to, "transcend the area of the |
| Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), came up with a novel | | | | canvas, or the volume of the statue, to assume |
| art style, called Spatialism or Movimento Spaziale. | | | | further dimensions and become an integral part of |
| This art movement was a contemporary to the | | | | architecture, transmitted into the surrounding |
| Abstract Expressionism of the United States. The | | | | space and using new discoveries in science and |
| philosophy behind Spatialism was dispelled through | | | | technology." Another distinguishing characteristic of |
| its manifesto titled 'Manifesto Blanco,' which | | | | Lucio Fontana's works was the presence of holes |
| discussed the need for a distinctive 'spatial' form | | | | or 'slits' of varying sizes and angles, across the |
| of art to capture the spirit of the post-war era. | | | | canvas. Fine examples of this technique include |
| The Correleations | | | | 'Concept Spatiale' of 1959 and 'Concetto Spaziale' |
| Three art movements - Dadaism, Tachism, and | | | | of 1964. The body of these works by Fontana |
| Concrete Art - had a defining influence over | | | | was known as the slash series. |
| Spatialism. Dadaism consciously ignored the | | | | The Artists and the Artworks |
| 'aesthetics' in Fine Arts to bring out revolutionary | | | | Spatialism eventually began focusing on the |
| compositions. Tachisme was often regarded as | | | | negative aspects in the depiction of its subjects. |
| the French style of Abstract Expressionism. | | | | Its subsequent manifestos dispelled the tenets of |
| Concrete Art of 1930s was predominated by the | | | | the expression, artificial emotions, and color |
| interplay of colors and lines, for representation. | | | | scheme over geometrical space, rather than |
| Although, the underlying ideas behind Spatialism | | | | capturing the 'real,' as it exists. Fontana's 1947 |
| and the Abstract Expressionism were similar, | | | | work, 'Black Spatial Environment' was a classic |
| Spatialism did away with the preponderance of | | | | example of this theory. It consisted of a room |
| paint and easel media, as the tools for creating | | | | painted in all black and another 1949 work, named |
| artworks. Instead, it focused on the 'moment,' | | | | 'Spatial Environment' lit by an array of Neon lights. |
| represented as a function of time and action. | | | | Among the most celebrated artists associated |
| The Details | | | | with Spatialism were Roberto Crippa (1921-72), |
| Spatialism synthesized the elements of sound, | | | | Cesare Peverelli (1922-2000), Gianni Dova |
| color, space, movement, and time, in its frames. | | | | (1925-91), and Enrico Donati (1909-2008). |
| In a way, Spatialism represented a union of the | | | | Fontana's revolutionary style not only created a |
| fundamentals of science with Fine Arts, using | | | | niche for him, it became a powerful influence on |
| tools, like television and Neon lighting to name a | | | | several artists and art forms. |