John M. Armleder
Mokugyo, 2022
Mokugyo, 2022
Courtesy of the artist
Collection
Mixed media on canvas, 110 x 150 x 4 cm
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
John M. Armleder (b. 1948, Geneva, Switzerland) is a Swiss artist and influential figure in contemporary art, known for his multidisciplinary practice that spans painting, sculpture, installation, and performance. A co-founder of the Geneva-based Groupe Ecart in the 1970s, Armleder’s work often blends conceptual rigor with playful experimentation, drawing inspiration from movements such as Fluxus and abstract modernism. Throughout his career, he has continually explored the interplay between chance and control, as well as the dialogue between fine art and design, evident in his iconic "Furniture Sculptures" and his innovative approach to painting.
Mokugyo belongs to John M. Armleder's celebrated series of "Pour paintings," a body of work defined by spontaneous, dynamic flows of color and material. Eschewing traditional brushwork, Armleder allows viscous liquid mediums to interact freely on the canvas, resulting in unpredictable compositions where pigments drip, pool, splatter, and mix. This method, rooted in serendipity and experimentation, challenges notions of artistic authorship and embraces the natural behaviors of the materials themselves.
In Mokugyo, these processes create a vibrant and layered visual field. Thick pours form clashing bands of color and uneven textures, transforming the surface into a topographical landscape that invites close inspection. The work's haptic qualities—its rough textures, shimmering effects, and dense, stratified layers—evoke a sense of materiality that is at once chaotic and meticulously crafted. Armleder often incorporates additional elements, such as glitter, to heighten the sensory impact, adding a playful yet deliberate touch to the organic forms.
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
John M. Armleder (b. 1948, Geneva, Switzerland) is a Swiss artist and influential figure in contemporary art, known for his multidisciplinary practice that spans painting, sculpture, installation, and performance. A co-founder of the Geneva-based Groupe Ecart in the 1970s, Armleder’s work often blends conceptual rigor with playful experimentation, drawing inspiration from movements such as Fluxus and abstract modernism. Throughout his career, he has continually explored the interplay between chance and control, as well as the dialogue between fine art and design, evident in his iconic "Furniture Sculptures" and his innovative approach to painting.
Mokugyo belongs to John M. Armleder's celebrated series of "Pour paintings," a body of work defined by spontaneous, dynamic flows of color and material. Eschewing traditional brushwork, Armleder allows viscous liquid mediums to interact freely on the canvas, resulting in unpredictable compositions where pigments drip, pool, splatter, and mix. This method, rooted in serendipity and experimentation, challenges notions of artistic authorship and embraces the natural behaviors of the materials themselves.
In Mokugyo, these processes create a vibrant and layered visual field. Thick pours form clashing bands of color and uneven textures, transforming the surface into a topographical landscape that invites close inspection. The work's haptic qualities—its rough textures, shimmering effects, and dense, stratified layers—evoke a sense of materiality that is at once chaotic and meticulously crafted. Armleder often incorporates additional elements, such as glitter, to heighten the sensory impact, adding a playful yet deliberate touch to the organic forms.
John Armleder was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner at the lithographic workshop and gallery space Edition Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark in September 2015. Camera: Klaus Elmer Edited by: Klaus Elmer Produced by: Marc-Christoph Wagner Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2018 Supported by Nordea-fonden