Artists - Klein

Yves Klein, L'Homme qui a Vendu du Vide: Interview by Pierre Descargues

Yves Klein describes this revelation as realizing ‘the time of the brush had ended and finally my knowledge of judo was going to be useful. My models were my brushes.’ 

Yves Klein, Sidra Stich

"Klein took a radical approach by focusing on the nude body, using the body itself as the agent and signifier of the vital force that is the essence and existence of being" pg 171

Began Anthropometries in Feb 1960

"sensed the need to initiate a new type of work" pg 171

"He had developed the habit of having nude models in his work space, since he felt they created a sensual cliamate that would stabilize his monochromes" pg 171

using models for figure paintings - painting them blue "the time of the brush had ended and finally my knowledge of judo was going to be useful." pg 171

"my models were my brushes" pg 172

"Within weeks after inaugurating the series of anthropometry paintings in February 1960, Klein arranged to give a live performance showing the models in action" pg 173

Performance Art, From Futurism to the Present, RoseLee Goldberg

Born in Nice in 1928

"determined to find a vessel for a 'spiritual' pictoral space, and it was this that led him eventually to live actions" pg 144

Monochrome paintings began around 1955 - freed him from constraints of painting

Searched for more than a year for the perfect blue

May 1957 "he had a double exhibition in Paris, one at the Galerie Iris Clert (10 May) and the other at the Galerie Colette Allendy (14 May). The invitation card announcing both exhibitions displayed Klein's own International Klein Blue monogram." pg 144

Exhibited blue paintings "accompanied by Pierre Henry's first taped version of the Symphonie Monotone"

One of Yves Klein’s most recognized works are his Anthropometries: Klein created this series of work beginning in February of 1960. Up until 1959, Klein had been teaching judo along side creating art as a means of extra funding. Combining his knowledge of judo and the nude models he often had about his studio, Klein desired a new way of working, and initiated the idea of his later known Anthropometries. 

Yves Klein, Hannah Weitemeier

"Living brushes" pg 52

"the paint traces relied too heavily on the workings of chance" for Klein pg 52

"first experiments in the new medium date back to 27 June 1958"pg 52

The forms of the female body were reduced to the essentials of torso and thighs, and an anthropometric symbol - that is, one related to the canon of the human proportions - was produced." pg 53

"Klein thought it was the most concentrated expression of vital energy imaginable."