Hans Arp - Sculptural Shapeshifter

Hans Peter Wilhelm Arp, born in 1886 in Strasbourg, was a revolutionary figure in 20th-century art. Co-founding the Dada movement in Zurich, Arp's artistic journey led him to become a pioneer of 'biomorphic' abstraction in the 1930s. This revolutionary style, departing from traditional figurative representation, instead drew inspiration from the organic, fluid forms found in nature. 

Tony Ellwood AM, Director of NGV, said of Arp's significance: "Through his contributions to Dadaism, Surrealism and abstract art, Hans Arp had an indelible impact on the trajectory of sculpture in the early twentieth century." Ellwood emphasised the transformative nature of this gift, enabling the NGV to share Arp's important contribution to art history and his continuing influence on contemporary culture with Australian audiences. 

Arp's sculptures, with their ability to be rotated and viewed from multiple angles, offer a unique, ever-changing visual experience. His experimental techniques, particularly evident in his plaster works, showcase a relentless pursuit of novel forms. Arp would often fuse separate sculptures, sawing them apart and rejoining them in entirely new configurations, creating endless hybrids of a single idea. 

The timing of this exhibition is particularly poignant, coinciding with the centenary of Surrealism, with the publication of André Breton's "Surrealist Manifesto" in 1924. Arp's involvement in the Surrealist movement is highlighted by his participation in the first exhibition of Surrealist art at the Paris Galerie Pierre in 1925, alongside luminaries such as Giorgio de Chirico, Max Ernst, and Pablo Picasso. 

To celebrate this landmark display, the NGV is offering several educational opportunities. Associate Professor Ken Wach, a world-leading expert in Dada and Surrealism, will present an illustrated talk on "Surrealism and the Art of Hans Arp" as part of NGV's Scholars Series. Additionally, art enthusiasts can enrol in a self-guided online course, "Surrealism – 1920s to Now," to delve deeper into Arp's relationship with Surrealism. 

Arp's influence extended far beyond Europe. He held his first US retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1958 and exhibited large-scale monumental sculptures internationally, including at the University of Caracas in Venezuela and the Harvard Graduate Center in Cambridge. His artistic prowess was recognised with the Grand Prize for Sculpture at the 1954 Venice Biennale. 

As these fluid, organic forms take up residence in Melbourne, they invite visitors to reconsider their perceptions of shape, space, and the very nature of sculpture itself. The exhibition celebrates the artistic genius of Hans Arp and offers a rare glimpse into the evolution of abstract art in the 20th century, further solidifying NGV International's position as a premier destination for modern art. 

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