Abstract Art. A Global History

Using content as a guide to shape, this comprehensive study sheds light on abstract art, expanding the traditional canon to include a diverse array of global artists. Pepe Karmel, an esteemed art historian, opens his exploration of abstract art's roots and progression with the assertion, "Abstract art is always rooted in experience of the real world." Historically, discussions of abstraction have focused primarily on formal innovations, categorizing them into a series of 'isms' without much consideration for their relationship with the external world. These narratives often centered on a select group of European and North American artists. In contrast, Karmel's work moves beyond these conventional boundaries, emphasizing content and subject matter rather than mere color and form. He reinterprets abstraction's history from a worldwide viewpoint, illustrating how artists globally have harnessed abstract imagery to express personal, social, and political experiences. After an introductory examination of abstraction's pioneers like Piet Mondrian, Kazimir Malevich, and Jackson Pollock, Karmel deviates from a simple chronological framework. Instead, he opts for an exploration organized into five thematic chapters: 'Bodies', 'Landscapes', 'Cosmologies', 'Architectures', and 'Signs and Patterns'. Each chapter begins with a figurative piece, diving into myriad topics such as embryos, star charts, and calligraphy, while clearly showcasing the connection between abstract and real-world elements. The book is further enriched with curated artworks juxtaposed to highlight unexpected connections and crucial differences. Central to the text is an effort to offer fresh perspectives on abstract art through a more inclusive lens, featuring notable artists like Vasily Kandinsky, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Bridget Riley, Anni Albers, Sean Scully, Julie Mehretu, and Wu Guanzhong.