Neosymbolism
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Neosymbolism
Philosophy
The core philosophy of neosymbolism, like that of its predecessor Symbolism, is the idea of "correspondences", the "emblematic order" of a world in which technology and the industrial reality have not yet drowned the forces of mysticism and belief. In a world where visual images exist to generate sales and revenue Neosymbolist imagery attempts to preserve the relationship between image and the human soul. The imagery is necessarily representational rather than abstract. It borders on the narrative, but stops short of the commercial trap of illustration to convey an idea for profit. Artists like Norman Rockwell could qualify as Neosymbolist painters in that they adopt a social and cultural undercurrent and convey it in terms of the cultural cliche'; the image as representative of core aspects of the culture. The same is not true, however, of the generally accepted idea of commercial illustration which attempts more to influence cultural, political, and economic ideology than it tries communicate an existent reality.
Neosymbolism is fairly well hidden within the culture with few references and almost no broad based visibility. In 1988 Nick A Demos created an art book in an edition of two. This was the first visible sign of Neosymbolism. Nick A Demos wrote, published, and developed the first book of neosymbolism titled "Just Words" into paintings. Nick A Demos was the first to use the word Neosymbolism to describe his art work. [citation needed]Nick A Demos owns the surviving copy of the first book of neosymbolism. Nick A Demos created the first domain name Neosymbolism.com 11/20/2002. See date created at whois.incann.org and the company administrator California Artists Agency Inc. a State of Georgia Corporation created 5/3/2001 is owned by Nick A Demos for the sole purpose of promoting his art of neosymbolism. There is no domain name of neosymbolism that pre dates this earliest documentation of the domain neosymbolism.com. Nick A Demos owns all domain names that relate to neosymbolism.com being Neosymbolism.net .org .info .us .biz and Neo-Symbolism.com .net .org. Nick A Demos published a half page ad in Gallery Guide New York September 2004 defining Neo-Symbolism as "Words juxtaposed with words and the letters with Words" with a painting as an example. Many examples of Neo-Symbolic paintings by Nick A Demos have been published over the years in Gallery Guide Magazine. Neo-symbolism as a descriptor of his art was a very intentional and documented creation of Nick A Demos.
There has also been a separate group using the neosymbolism name for the creation of an international collective representing a number of artists who share the goals of preserving the visual art that is the foundation of the ideas associated with the term in its original and essential sense, as opposed to the "non-sense" of individual philosophies which deviate from the preservation of the core philosophy as it has evolved since the late nineteenth century.
The neosymbolist movement was born spontaneously in numerous locations across the globe. Many groups use words but do not want to be limited to only that discipline. A group of Danish Neosymbolists defined their movement[citation needed] by
- Using Iconic language in their expressions
- Reproducing the inner experience of the outer world
- Examining the human experience and circumstance in today’s changing world
- Examining the underlying meaning of life
- Using media in conscious and innovative ways
Reviews
The exhibition history of this group, including their collaborations with the Danish Neosymbolist collective, are documented in the reviews in these periodicals. More information about this group can be found at www.neosymbolism.eu
- Sketch Book the Artists’ Coalition of Austin Newsletter -
- Neosymbolismus at Depot St. Gallery - Pascale Vial -July 2001
- Austin Chronicle Vol 23 No 26 - Jacqueline May - May 7, 2004,
- Olomoucky Den - Gabriela Garbova - March 17, 2005
- Austin Gazeta - The Exhibition of Neosymbolist Art - October, 2006
- Vesterbro Bladet - Symbol X i Rahuset - Af Michael Friis - November 22, 2006 - Copenhagen, Denmark
- Dnes - Galerii Osadil Neosymbolismus - January 5, 2007
- Pravo - Neosymboliste Vystavuji v Olomouci - Vlasta Hrdilova - January 12, 2007,
- Piestansky Tyzden-Americki vytarnici predstavili neosymbolizmus-Ondrej Grezdo - octobra 14, 2008