Inventing Abstraction
Combining biographical information and artwork, this online exhibition allows visitors to see associations between early abstract artists and explore influential works from the period.
Between 1910 and 1925, a community of artists emerged, brought together by a desire to “lay bare the abstract,” as Vasily Kandinsky wrote. For Inventing Abstraction, 1910-1925, the Museum of Modern Art, in collaboration with Columbia Business School, mapped the interpersonal links between ninety-two early abstract artists. This website extends the museum experience, presenting a dynamic, 3D diagram of the connections between the artists. As visitors interact with the diagram, they can explore detailed networks, view artist portfolios, and draw their own conclusions about influence, impact, and invention.
Featuring artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Sonia Delaunay-Terk, and Francis Picabia, the site presents canonical works and contextualizes the artists within their contemporary landscape through biographical essays. Portfolios are organized by artist, and each portfolio can be explored while inset diagrams show the artist’s connections within the community. Accompanying text, audio, and video offer insight into individual works and abstraction as a greater movement. A flexible data structure gives curators the ability to update and add content, and responsive programming allows the site to be viewable across multiple devices.