The digital book Guggenheim - Full Abstraction belongs to the exhibition held at the ING Art Center. This exhibition traces the origins and development of Abstract Art on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1940s to 1960s, through masterpieces from two museums founded by the American collectors Solomon R. and Peggy Guggenheim.
Abstract Art is a concept used in many different contexts. This exhibition focuses on its true meaning, how and why it arose and how it spread in the United States and Europe. The artworks tell that story as well as the stories of their unusual collectors, each of whom in turn contributed to the recognition of this artistic movement. Abstraction is an exciting standpoint adopted by the artist, a direct way to give expression to feelings and visions. It is related to colour, gestures, materials and a philosophy of life.
For the visitor, viewing this style of art demands a particular mode of entering into the works in order to see them with “empathy”. This is the reason for the specific mise-en-scène, a decor with colourful fabrics intended to take the visitor away from the hustle and bustle of today’s society and place him or her within an ethereal setting, face to face with the masterpieces.