Harm Brink was born in 1947, molded by the creative inspiration of the 1960s. The unparalleled reach and influence of this decade permeated throughout the world, evoking both faith and fury. It sparked a surge of new ideologies and movements that were nothing short of revolutionary. Embedded within the context of the Cold War, which left an indelible mark on a global scale, the 1960s were characterized by the Iron Curtain physically and spiritually dividing Europe, culminating in the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961. Gender, race, justice, education, and morality were all redefined by this era, evident in the civil rights movement and the second wave of feminism, as well as student uprisings. The era also saw a dramatic rise in mass consumerism, leading to new strategies in marketing and advertising. A core concept of Minimalism was the belief that art should exist in its own realm, unbound by the constraints of the real world. This avant-garde movement aimed to dismantle all preconceptions about art, gaining global recognition and influencing artists such as Frank Stella, Donald Judd, and Dan Flavin as prominent figures. Minimalism’s impact was further amplified by the works of Victor Vasarely and Bridget Riley, while Pop art emerged as a critique and celebration of popular culture. The contemporary art scene was marked by a surge of radicalism in the 1960s, and each movement had its distinct characteristics and reach, varying across different regions and countries. Spatialism originated in Italy under the guidance of Lucio Fontana and Piero Manzoni, and was later embraced by the Zero group in Germany. In Europe, artists like Francis Bacon and Alberto Giacometti were strongly influenced by the ideologies of Existentialism, as seen in their depictions of the human figure.
www.ftn-books.com has the van Abbemuseum catalog now available and ……i am sorry . i could not find any portrait of the artist available.
