Group 42

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The group 42 (Czech Skupina 42 ) was a Czech artists' association. The avant-garde group united visual artists and writers and was founded in 1942. In terms of programming, it was oriented towards the aesthetics of everyday urban life.

program

The group was primarily shaped by civilism, cubism , futurism and constructivism , with individual elements of surrealism and existentialism . The representatives of the group were enthusiastic about technology and this resulted in an artistic focus focused on cities and technology. The basis was the life of a simple person in the city.

The basic program was geared towards “the city”, which means urban areas and life in cities, the life of ordinary workers. This was in contrast to the life in the country as heroically described by poets and writers. According to the understanding of the members of the group, which adopted Martin Heidegger's thoughts , the city was the place that shapes and deforms us. It was not the enchantment of technology as in constructivism or futurism, it was the now and today that inspired the authors, including the realization that technology gives us many advantages and conveniences, but on the other hand also deforms. Another component was a metaphysical influence, a mythological urban landscape in which no fairies and mermen influence events, but street sweepers, hairdressers and factory workers. That brought the group close to realism .

history

The formation of the group goes back to the years 1938/39, shaped by the time of the Protectorate and the Second World War , but with experiences from the pre-war period, so that the works did not only deal with the times of war. The first members met in 1940.

The group's activities were banned by the communists after the February revolution in 1948, but influences on Czech art and literature can still be proven later.

Members and Representatives

theorist
poet
writer
painter
sculptor
Photographers

literature

Web links