Fluxus at 50: The Historiographical Paradox of an Anti-Movement
On the 50th anniversary of Fluxus, Bertrand Clavez explores its historiography, pointing out that its elusive nature has resulted in a wealth of literature that is often flawed. Unlike movements such as Pop Art or Minimalism, Fluxus did not benefit from institutional backing or unified leadership. Key figures, including George Maciunas, Dick Higgins, and Wolf Vostell, maintained their independence from competing groups. Clavez outlines the artists' narrative, beginning with Higgins's 1964 'Postface,' which positioned Fluxus within an American framework. This self-representation established a 'ready-made' history until Owen Smith's 1998 work, 'Fluxus: The History of an Attitude,' offered a new perspective. Scholars like Hannah Higgins and Julia Robinson have since pursued this critical narrative. Clavez emphasizes the ongoing struggle between independence and historical interpretation, concluding that Fluxus transforms transient moments into lasting importance. The article also details global Fluxus exhibitions from 2011 to 2012.
Key facts
- Fluxus celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012 with numerous exhibitions and publications worldwide.
- The movement lacked institutional support, coherent leadership, shared manifesto, or unified practices.
- Key figures include George Maciunas, Dick Higgins, Wolf Vostell, Ben Vautier, Emmett Williams, George Brecht, Robert Filliou, and others.
- Dick Higgins's 1964 'Postface' (Something Else Press) is considered the foundational text of Fluxus historiography.
- Owen Smith's 1998 book 'Fluxus: The History of an Attitude' reinterpreted Fluxus as an 'attitude' rather than an artistic movement.
- Fluxus artists wrote their own history, creating a 'ready-made' narrative that art historians often reproduced uncritically.
- The essay by Bertrand Clavez was published in artpress in June 2012.
- Clavez is a lecturer at Université Rennes 2 and author of 'George Maciunas, une révolution furtive' (2009).
- Major exhibitions in 2011-2012 included MoMA New York, Mudam Luxembourg, Museum Wiesbaden, and Villa Arson Nice.
- The Something Else Press, founded by Dick Higgins, published works by Huelsenbeck, Gertrude Stein, and Marcel Duchamp.
Entities
Artists
- George Maciunas
- Dick Higgins
- Wolf Vostell
- Ben Vautier
- Emmett Williams
- George Brecht
- Robert Filliou
- Eric Andersen
- Jackson Mac Low
- La Monte Young
- Henry Flynt
- John Cage
- Daniel Spoerri
- Hannah Higgins
- Julia Robinson
- Owen Smith
- Bertrand Clavez
- Marcel Duchamp
- Gertrude Stein
- Huelsenbeck
Institutions
- Something Else Press
- MoMA
- Mudam
- Museum Wiesbaden
- Villa Arson
- Centre Pompidou
- Musée d'art moderne de Saint-Étienne Métropole
- Auditorium Parco della musica
- Goethe-Institut
- Schloss Freudenberg
- Weserburg Museum für moderne Kunst
- National Museum of Contemporary Art (Bucharest)
- Kuad Gallery
- Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- San Diego State University Press
- Les presses du réel
- BAT éditions
- Université Rennes 2
- artpress
Locations
- New York
- United States
- London
- United Kingdom
- Wiesbaden
- Germany
- Cologne
- Berlin
- Potsdam
- Bremen
- Saint-Étienne
- France
- Metz
- Paris
- Nice
- Rome
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Bucharest
- Romania
- Istanbul
- Turkey
- New Brunswick
- Ann Arbor
- Venice
Sources
- artpress —