Tony Cragg's Sculptural Language as Minimalist Mannerism
An article in artpress from July 1987 frames Tony Cragg's early work as a mannerist response to Minimalism, comparing it to Richard Long's practice. While Minimalism is seen as a classicism, both Long and Cragg are described as injecting a new syntax into the reduced vocabulary of Minimal art—Long through fragments of nature, Cragg through industrial waste. The text positions their work as a deviation that maintains Minimalism's regular spatial arrangement and juxtaposition but replaces its purified forms with raw materials.
Key facts
- Article published in artpress in July 1987
- Compares Tony Cragg's early work to Richard Long's
- Describes both as mannerist responses to Minimalism
- Minimalism is characterized as a classicism
- Long uses fragments of nature
- Cragg uses industrial waste
- Both maintain Minimalist syntax of regular arrangement and juxtaposition
- Both replace Minimalist vocabulary with alternative materials
Entities
Artists
- Tony Cragg
- Richard Long
Institutions
- artpress
Sources
- artpress —