Arman
Monochrome Accumulation No. 3001
1988

About the Item

Monochrome Accumulation No. 3001, 1988 by Arman (1928-2005) Acrylic paint tubes and acrylic paint on canvas 40 ¼ x 32 ⅞ inches framed (102.235 x 83.5025 cm) 36 ¼ x 28 ¾ inches unframed (92.075 x 73.025 cm) Inscribed (SA) and numbered (3001) on the reverse Provenance: A.H. Graphics, Stockholm Private Collection, Europe Sotheby's, London, Contemporary Art, 20 March 1997, Lot 74 Description: This mixed media work titled "Monochrome Accumulation No. 3001" by Armand Pierre Fernandez, typically styled as "Arman," is a brilliant collage of found objects and traditional painting techniques. The bright, monochromatic yellow color that envelopes the work stretches not only over Arman's chosen canvas but on the paint tubes that find themselves being displayed as part of the work. This work is part of the artist's renowned "Accumulations" series. In this series, Arman expertly depicts a triumvirate of “accumulation” in consumerism: the buildup of products at the assembly line, on store shelves, and eventually, in wastelands. In this piece, Arman freezes this oversaturated process of consumerism by layering the same branded paint tubes over each other. These tubes are in the process of being used, spilling out paint in long streaks of stiff color. In layering these paint tubes-- the tools of the artist-- Arman does not only call attention to consumerism as separate from himself, but an integral part of his own practice as an artist and as a participant in capitalism. As one of the founders of the movement of “Nouveau Realisme,” Arman took great interest in representing the manmade in his work. He would often investigate objects by deconstructing them, stacking them, or collecting them to create compositions that were centrally concerned with presenting the objects as the art itself.

Creator:
Arman (1928 - 2005, French)
Creation Year:
1988
Dimensions:
Height: 36.25 in (92.08 cm)Width: 28.75 in (73.03 cm)
Medium:
Found Objects,Acrylic
Movement & Style:
Abstract
Period:
1980-1989
Condition:
Gallery Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU163728824172
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Arman

Arman was born in Nice, France, in 1928, and showed a talent for painting and drawing as a child. He studied at the the Ecole Nationale des Art Décoratifs in Nice followed by studies at the École du Louvre in Paris. In his early years he focused on abstract paintings. Then, in 1957, he became interested in common objects as works of art. He first did what came to be called his "allures d"objet" (object impressions), where he would dip an object into paint and press it on canvas thus leaving the object's shadow or impression. Then he decided the object itself was worth paying attention to and started to treat them in his own way. His intention was to remove the material purpose of an object so that its only remaining function was to "feed the mind" as a work of art. What better way to achieve that result than by breaking, slicing or even burning objects such as violins, telephones, typewriters or even whole cars? He also made objects useless by accumulating them, such as 2,000 wristwatches in a Plexiglass box that all kept different time. Once emotionally detached from the circumstances associated with a broken object, the viewer could grow to appreciate its abstract beauty; so, in a sense, Arman was literally teaching that things one never thought could be regarded as attractive could indeed turn out to be so. Through this achievement, Arman gained worldwide recognition and is regarded as one of the most prolific and inventive creators of the late 20th century. His work can be found in the collections of numerous museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Arman’s work has also been exhibited in galleries, museums and public spaces worldwide including the Musée D’Art Contemporain in Tehran, Iran; the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel; the Musée Des Arts Decoratifs and Opéra De Paris in France; the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art in California; and the Museum of Arts and Design and the Guggenheim in New York He died in 2005 in New York.