Kandinsky: Incarnating Beauty

Kojève's definition of art as the act of extracting the beautiful from objective reality and his endorsement of nonrepresentational art as uniquely manifesting beauty are explored in his poetic text "The Concrete Paintings of Kandinsky." He suggests that in creating (rather than replicating) beauty, the paintings are themselves complete universes as concrete as the natural world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2022
Publisher: David Zwirner

Kojève, a renowned teacher to Jacques Lacan, André Breton, and Albert Camus, profoundly defined art as the act of extracting the beautiful from objective reality. In his poetic text, "The Concrete Paintings of Kandinsky," Kojève wholeheartedly endorsed nonrepresentational art as the sole means of manifesting unparalleled beauty. Drawing inspiration from his renowned uncle, Wassily Kandinsky, Kojève proposed that in the act of creating beauty, the paintings themselves become complete universes, as concrete and profound as the natural world.

Kojève's text delves into the profound significance and necessity of beauty in life, raising an intricate and contemplative question: What precisely is beauty? This book, enriched with personal letters between Kandinsky and his nephew, offers a deeper exploration of the unique relationship between artist and philosopher. Boris Groys' introduction provides valuable context, shedding light on Kojève's life and writings.

Weight: 80g
Dimension: 178 x 108 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781644230817