Abstract Expressionism

Question 1

Subject matter

Answer 1

• break away from conventional realistic subject matter
• created mainly abstract works in which the physical act of painting, the marks of paint on the canvas and the large surfaces of colour become central to conveying an honest self-examination of the artist’s personal experience which is derived from the self conscious.

Question 2

Composition

Answer 2

• whole canvas filled with a non-representational composition.
• ACTION PAINTER compositions lack a central motif. They abandoned the traditional idea of composition in terms of relations among the parts.
• COLOURFIELD PAINTERS compositions were more structured and geometric or organic shapes created some form of focal point.

Question 3

Three-dimensionality

Answer 3

Any conscious reference to three-dimensionality is avoided even though the layers of paint create the effect of depth through the overlapping of marks and colour areas.

Question 4

Shapes

Answer 4

The shapes created on the canvas are meant to be interpreted as brushstrokes, drips or geometric surfaces of colour divided by smaller geometric surfaces of other colours. It does not refer to anything recognisable except for paint on canvas.

Question 5

Application

Answer 5

ACTION PAINTER application of paint was gestural and aggressive.
COLOURFIELD PAINTER works were not as gestural even though the textures of brushstrokes were visible.

Question 6

Colour

Answer 6

Use of colour generally did not refer to visual reality.
COLOURFIELD PAINTER saw the non-figurative colour surfaces as expressions of the ideas of transcendence and the infinite.