Tomma Abts Abstract Art Isn't A "knock Out" - But It Is Ok.
In 2006 the Turner Prize gained it's first ever female winner. The artist who achieved this feat hails from Germany and is called is Tomma Abts. In order to carry off the Turner Prize - in the final, Tomma had to overcome three notable artists .
They are worthy of a mention here. I'm referring to Mark Titchner curiously known as a "billboard artist", Rebecca Warren - a highly original sculptress and last but not least Phil Collins - who I'm told makes films. Of the three - it was Rebecca Warren that most bookies were tipping to win the prize.
By winning the Turner prize Tomma Abts added a cool 25,000 pounds sterling to her bank balance. However it's often said that when it comes to the Turner Prize the exposure one gets from winning is worth far more than the cash value...
What kind of art does Tomma Abts create? Well acrylic or oil paintings actually - abstract art. Perhaps some would say this is unusual considering this is theTurner Prize. It's not known for selecting simple "lowly" painters as winners. NonethelessTomma Abts was chosen originally because of her solo painting exhibitions. The exhibitions based specifically at Greengrassi, London and Kunsthalle Basel, Switzerland.
Tomma Abts has been praised by no less than the Tate Gallery who describes her canvases as "intimate" and "compelling". They also comment on Tomma's "consistent" and even "rigorous" method of painting. In addition the Tate states that Tomma Abts "enriches the language of abstract art".
With such praise heaped upon her head it's no surprise to me that she won the prize. However I actually feel that Tomma's abstract artwork isn't "knock out" but it definitely is OK.
Tomma Abts creates her works through repeating geometric shapes and figures on layers of rich colours. I don't consider this a particularly original way to paint. That being said I do find that some of Tomma's artwork work does actually move me in unexpected ways.
I don't really know why - but each Tomma Abts painting measures exactly 48 x 38 cms. However I can see that this makes for more concentrated or focused artwork. Only Tomma herself knows why she opted for these exact measurements.
When creating titles for her paintings apparently Tomma simply plucks one from a dictionary of German first names! Titles like "Veeke" for example were created in this way. In my view this is surely only slightly more interesting than numbering each picture!
There is no doubt that Tomma Abts makes abstract art that is comprehensible to the general public. This something that is in marked contrast to some other winners of the Turner Prize. Furthermore a picture by Tomma Abts could not possibly offend anyone save the most feeble-minded of souls!
In the end it's just my personal opinion but I do believe that it's entirely posible that Tomma Abts will go on to become a household name - within her own lifetime...Of course she could also disappear without trace from the media - and our minds in the blink of an eye, for precisely the same reasons.
About The Author: Flo Cordon loves Art. Read her stimulating writing on 2006 Turner Prize Winner Tomma Abts. Flo represents a whole new outlook on Abstract Art.
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