Thursday 25 March 2010, 14.00–17.00
Friday 26 March 2010, 11.00–17.00

This conference takes place on the occasion of two major exhibitions, Van Doesburg and the International Avant-Garde: Constructing a New World (4 February – 16 May 2010) and Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective (10 February – 3 May 2010) at Tate Modern, which provide unique insight to the careers of each artist. Van Doesburg's varied activity as painter, architect, designer, writer, theorist and publicist is situated in relation to around 80 of his contemporaries, demonstrating his dynamic role in coordinating the interwar avant-garde. Meanwhile, the most extensive Gorky retrospective to be held in Europe demonstrates how his assimilation of contemporary styles led to his lyrical, gestural paintings which prefigured Abstract Expressionism.

The artists and their contexts were divided by space and time, and certain histories of modern art have further distinguished their work by positioning it under opposing headings such as constructivist vs. surrealist or geometric vs. biomorphic. However, the coincidence of these exhibitions offers the opportunity to consider broader issues associated with twentieth-century abstract art beyond movement-centred distinctions. 

This conference is part of a two-day event exploring abstraction jointly organised by Tate Modern, The Open University and University of York.

Joint ticket with Abstraction Study Day £25 (£20 concessions).

Download the full conference programme (PDF, 96K)

Tate Modern  Starr Auditorium
£15 (£12 concessions), booking recommended
Joint tickets are available for this and the Abstraction Study day on 27 March (£25 / £20 concessions). These are bookable by phone or in person.