Art & Language
Art & Language, established in 1968, is an innovative English conceptual art collective that challenged the fundamental assumptions of mainstream modern art practice and criticism.
History of Art & Language
Art & Language was founded by Michael Baldwin, David Bainbridge, Terry Atkinson, and Harold Hurrell aroun 1967 in Coventry, England. In 1970, the group welcomed the addition of the critic and art historian Charles Harrison, along with the artist Mel Ramsden.
Art & Language initiated their journey by challenging the fundamental assumptions of mainstream modern art practice and critique. Their early endeavors involved in-depth exploration of these themes often articulated through discussions in their journal or within the confines of art galleries. Additionally, they produced notable works of conceptual art like "Map Not to Indicate" in 1967.
The inaugural edition of "Art-Language: The Journal of Conceptual Art" (Volume 1, Number 1) debuted in May 1969.
Between 1968 and 1982, as many as fifty individuals were associated in various capacities with the endeavors under the banner of Art & Language.
Charles Harrison and Fred Orton delineated three primary phases of the group's evolution: the formative years until 1972, prominently marked by the publication Art Language; a transitional phase spanning between New York and England, coupled with the release of the journal The Fox (ceased in 1976); and the period since 1977, characterized by the creation of paintings that delve into the critical concerns of the group.
Arguably their most renowned piece is "Index 01," displayed at dOCUMENTA 5 in Kassel, Germany (1972). It consisted of eight filing cabinets housing their writings, showcased on four plinths at eye level.
Throughout various phases and durations, the collective has encompassed individuals such as Terry Atkinson, David Bainbridge, Michael Baldwin, Kathryn Bigelow, Ian Burn, Sarah Charlesworth, Charles Harrison, Preston Heller, Harold Hurrell, Joseph Kosuth, Christine Kozlov, Andrew Menard, Neil Powell, Mel Ramsden, David Rushton, Terry Smith, Mayo Thompson, and Red Crayola, among others.
Since 1977, Art & Language has primarily revolved around three figures: artists Michael Baldwin (born 1945) and Mel Ramsden (born 1944), and critic Charles Harrison (1942-2009).
In 1986, Art & Language received a nomination for the Turner Prize.
In 1999, Art & Language held an exhibition at PS1 MoMA in New York, featuring a significant installation titled "The Artist Out of Work." This installation served as a retrospective of Art & Language's dialogical and various other practices.
Recent solo exhibitions of Art & Language including "Now They Are" at Jesus College in Cambridge (2021), "Devinera qui pourra (Figure it out who can)" at Galerie Michael Janssen in Berlin (2019), "Ten Posters: Illustration for Art-Language" at Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debre in Tours (2017), and many more.
Art & Language's works have also been featured in numerous group exhibitions, including "Guernica" at Musee Picasso in Paris (2018), "Towards Infinity: 1965-1980" at Simon Lee Gallery in London (2018), "Performer / Audience / Mirror" at Lisson Gallery in London (2016), among others.
