Art can be complicated. Often, it is difficult
to interpret its meaning or unearth the message that the artist wants to
convey. Other times, it is difficult to understand the techniques and methods
used.
However, art also belongs to various different
categories and art movements that further complicate things. Some movements are
straightforward, others not so much. Below we have compiled a list of the
strangest and most obscure art movements that existed or still exist in the
world.
10. Intentism
If you have ever been to an art exhibition and
wondered what exactly the artist meant with his piece of art, you probably know
that sometimes understanding the meaning and intention of art can be rather
difficult. Perhaps there is no intention in art, we wonder. Or perhaps the
intention and the message is whatever we decide it to be. However, followers of
Intentism would disagree.
Intentism is an international art movement of
artists, authors, actors and musicians who believe that art can convey an
intended message to those viewing it.
Intentists follow three principles. Firstly,
they feel that artists are free to convey their message to society. Secondly,
they believe that confused, hidden or denied intentions lead to zero accountability.
Thirdly and lastly, they think that the exclusion of intention can lead to
enforced restrictions on the artist.
Indeed, Intentists believe that through the
rejection of intention and authorship, creative work becomes indifferent and
anaemic.
9. Orphism Art Movements
Orphism, also called Orphic Cubism or
Simultaneism, is a trend in abstract art which derived from Cubism. The
movement was named by a French poet, Guillaume Apollinaire, in 1912, and gives
priority to light and colour. Apollinaire thought that this new style of
painting brought musical qualities to the paintings. The name Orphism comes
from Orpheus, a poet and singer from ancient Greece mythology.
The movement was started by Robert Delaunay and
his wife, Sonia Delaunay-Terk. Unlike Cubists, they believed colour to be a
powerful element in their art, although just like Cubists, they were greatly
interested in geometric fragmentation.
The movement was short-lived and came to an end
before World War I.
8. Fluxus Art Movements
Fluxus was a group of artists that were known for blending
different artistic media in the 1960s. Fluxus artists could be found all over
the world but an especially large concentration of them could be found in New
York as well as various German cities.
George Maciunas is considered to be the main founder of the group.
He coined the name ‘Fluxus’ and edited the movement’s numerous publications.
Followers of Fluxus strongly disagreed with the idea that museums
have the right to decide the value of art. They also did not think that viewers
of art have to be in any way educated to view and understand art. Not only did
members of Fluxus desire to make all art acceptable to the public – they also
wanted to ensure that each and every individual produced art regurlarly.
7. Arte Povera
Arte povera, or poor art, was an artistic movement that emerged in
the 1960s. Members of this group were Italian artists who created their art
from commonplace materials such as rocks, clothing and paper. The group
rejected minimalism and modernist abstract painting.
The name of the movement was introduced by the Italian art critic
and curator, Germano Celant. He wanted the name to convey the notion of art
made without restraints, a complete and utter opennes to materials and
processes.
The group’s most memorable art, however, comes from their use of
unprocessed materials with references to consumer culture. The group aimed at
contrasting the new and the old to complicate our sense of the passing time.
6. Yellowism
In 2012, a vandal named Vladimir Umanets scrawled graffiti on Mark
Rothko’s mural which was on exhibit at London’s Tate Modern. The graffiti read
“Vladimir Umanets, A Potential Piece of Yellowism.” With that, the movement of
Yellowism gained international recognition.
Yellowism is an artistic movement run by two people – Vladimir
Umanets and Marcin Lodyga. The movement began in Egypt in 2010 when the first
exhibition was unveiled and has continued since, although grasping Yellowism is
not an easy task. Apparently, in order for a piece of art to be considered as a
part of Yellowism, it needs to be either displayed in a yellow gallery-like
space or signed by a Yellowist.
Umanets also says that “The main difference between Yellowism and
art is that in art you have got freedom of interpretation, in Yellowism you
don’t have freedom of interpretation, everything is about Yellowism, that’s
it.” Indeed, to most people the movement of Yellowism just seems like vandalism
and obscure nonsense, but perhaps Yellowists will eventually surprise us all.
5. Mannerism Art Movements
Mannerism originated in Italy in 1520, and soon spread throughout
Europe. Instead of focusing on naturalistic representations, this movement
concentrated on complexity and virtuosity. Giuseppe Arcimboldo, the artist
behind portraits made entirely of objects such as vegetables, fruits, flowers and
the like, is a great example of a Mannerist.
The name of the movement comes from the Italian word ‘maniera’
which simply means style. Indeed, Mannerists believed that natural paintings
were too plain, too simple for life. They thought it best to spice up life with
invention and refinement, as well as a virtuoso technique. Early Mannerists
liked to use elongated forms, irrational settings and theatrical lighting. Thus
perhaps it comes as no surprise that mannerist paintings often leave the viewer
nervous and unsettled.
4. The Incoherents
The Incoherents was an art movement founded in 1882 by a Parisian
writer and publisher Jules Levy. The movement exhibited drawings of children or
people who did not know how to draw, “found” objects, parodies of famous art
pieces as well as political and social satire. Thus, in that way, the movement
was not only meant to serve as an artistic exhibition or an artistic outlet,
but also as a form of public entertainment.
It started when Jules Levy decided to organize an evening whereby
people who could not draw would be encouraged to draw and paint as well as
create art in general. It was a huge success and a few months later, he
repeated the experiment at his home in the company of his friends. Once again,
the evening proved to be successful and resulted in extensive newspaper
coverage. Before long, ‘The Incoherents’ were part of Parisian culture.
Unfortunately, in 1886, Levy became the target for criticism as
people began to claim that he was using ‘The Incoherents’ for his own
interests. Others too started using the name for their own endeavours –
Incoherent cafes and magazines were established but in reality, they had
nothing to do with the actual people taking part in the movement. Thus, Levy
decided to end this movement, and while there were a couple brief recovery
attempts, the movement was forgotten in the ashes of Parisian trends.
3. Dazzle Camouflage
Dazzle camouflage was a technique used to camouflage ships in
World War I as well as World War II and after. It is also known as ‘dazzle
camouflage’ or ‘razzle dazzle’ and is attributed to Norman Wilkinson.
Wilkinson, who was an artist and illustrator, as well as a Royal
Navy volunteer in World War One, realized the danger of Germany U-boats and
devised a plan to help the Allied ships with his artistic abilities.
Being fully aware that it is impossible to camouflage ships in a
way that would render them unnoticeable, he decided that the very opposite was
needed. Thus, crazy shapes and bold colors were painted on the ships to confuse
the enemy, making it difficult for them to estimate the speed, size, and
direction of the ships. However, the effectiveness of this technique was ever
measured so it is unclear whether ‘razzle dazzle’ was in any way superior to
plain ships.
2. Fauvism Art Movements
Fauvism emerged in the early Twentieth century in France and was
one of the first successful avant-garde movements. The Fauves, which loosely
translated means ‘the wild beasts’, expressed themselves through bold
brushstrokes and vibrant, often unnatural colors which they applied directly
from the tube. The artists preferred individual expression and intuition over
academic theory and accurate representation. Thus, many paintings made by ‘Fauves’
were abstract and simple.
The movement gained its name after Louis Vauxcelles, an art
critic, saw the paintings of Henri Matisse and Andre Derain, as well as various
other artists, and called them ‘les fauves’ (wild beasts) in disapproval.
Indeed, Vauxcelles went so far as to describe the artists behind the movement
as ‘youngsters’ and the movement itself ‘dangerous’.
1. Stuckism Art Movement
Stuckism is an art movement that promotes figurative painting
instead of conceptual art and was founded in 1999 by Charles Thomson and Billy
Childish. The name for the movement came when Childish’s girlfriend insulted
him by saying that his art was “stuck, stuck, stuck.” Stuckists strongly
believe that art is more than just dead animals and beds and thus oppose to
modern art, minimal art, conceptual art and the like.
Stuckists regularly oppose to the Turner Prize by holding
demonstrations. On one occasion, they even dressed up as clowns. Over the
years, these demonstrations have gained the movement a lot of media coverage.
Stuckism has grown into a large, international movement which today has over
187 groups in 45 countries.
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