Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950 - 1970

This spring, Turner Contemporary will present Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction, 1950 – 1970, a group exhibition presenting abstraction as a radical global language shared by women artists in the twenty years following World War II. Guest curated by Dr Flavia Frigeri, the exhibition will bring together the works of more than 50 artists to examine how, through abstract forms, materials and modes, women pushed the boundaries of artmaking while tackling seismic cultural, social and political shifts. Comprising over 80 artworks, predominantly sculpture, the exhibition will trace how the language of abstraction developed on a global scale.

The exhibition will include sculptures by Mária Bartuszová, Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse and Hannah Wilke. It will highlight Marisa Merz’s Living Sculpture (1966), a piece realised within the intimate confines of a domestic space before the artist had a studio. It will also explore Carla Accardi and Marta Pan’s innovative use of modern materials to redefine space and perception. The fibre art of Maria Teresa Chojnacka and Ewa Pachucka will also be featured, symbolising resistance and liberation from state censorship or monitoring. Complementing the sculptural focus of the exhibition will be select paintings and reliefs, such as Carmen Herrera’s East (1965) and Agnes Martin’s Morning (1965), enriching the understanding of this artistic period.

Featuring: Carla Accardi; Novera Ahmed; Ruth Asawa; Maria Bartuszová; Lynda Benglis; Louise Bourgeois; Maria Theresa Chojnacka; Lygia Clark; Saloua Raouda Choucair; Sue Fuller; Eva Hesse; Marisa Merz; Yuko Nasaka; Louise Nevelson; Mona Saudi; Lenore Tawney; Hedda Sterne; Hannah Wilke, and more.

Together, the works included in Beyond Form will map a constellation that speaks to the global, collective language of abstraction that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries through the universal medium of sculpture.

Beyond Form is guest curated by Dr Flavia Frigeri, art historian and ‘Chanel Curator for the Collection’ at the National Portrait Gallery, London. At Turner Contemporary the exhibition is realised with Sarah Martin, Head of Exhibitions.

Opening Hours

Opening Day

Saturday 3 February 2024, 2pm - 6pm

Exhibition Opening Hours

Sunday 4 February - Sunday 31 March 2024

Wednesdays to Sundays, 10am - 5pm, plus bank holidays

Monday 1 April - Monday 6 May 2024

Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am - 5pm, plus bank holidays

Accessibility:

• The gallery is wheelchair accessible with an outdoor ramp and lift serving both floors.
• Wheelchairs and portable stools are available for visitors. Please contact us ahead of your visit, or speak to a member of staff upon arrival if you would like to use one.
• Large print text, magnifying sheets and audio versions of exhibition texts are available. Ask a member of staff for more information.
• We welcome guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs in the gallery.

For more information on accessibility, please visit: turnercontemporary.org/accessibility

For access support please contact us ahead of your visit:

access@turnercontemporary.org | 01843 233 025 (operated daily 10am – 5pm)

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