- Biomorphism
Biomorphism is an art movement that began in the 20th century.
The term was first used in 1936, by
Alfred H. Barr , Jr. Biomorphist art focuses on the power of natural life and uses organic shapes, with shapeless and vaguely spherical hints of the forms of biology. Biomorphism has connections withSurrealism andArt Nouveau .The
Tate Gallery 's online glossary article on biomorphic form specifies that while these forms are abstract, they "refer to, or evoke, living forms...". The article goes on to listJoan Miró ,Jean Arp ,Henry Moore , andBarbara Hepworth as examples of artists whose work epitomizes the use of biomorphic form. [Tate Collection, [http://www.tate.org.uk/collections/glossary/definition.jsp?entryId=42 "Glossary: Biomorphic"] www.tate.org.uk, accessed 25 July 2008.]Biomorphism is also seen in modern industrial design, such as the work of
Alvar Aalto . [Martin Eidelberg, et al "Design 1935-1965: what modern was: selections from the Liliane and David M. Stewart Collection," Montreal: Musée des arts décoratifs de Montréal, New York: H.N. Abrams, 1991, Page 90.] Presently, the effect of the influence of nature is less obvious: instead of designed objects looking exactly like the natural form, they use only slight characteristics to remind us of nature.Desmond Morris is a biomorphic painter of note.Notes
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