Judith Lauand

In 1954, was a turning point in Lauand’s career in which she was introduced to concrete art. In the following years, Lauand became closely associated with the São Paulo based Grupo Ruptura, an avant garde group of international artists lead by Waldemar Cordeiro and self declared followers of Max Bill.

The Grupo Ruptura artists were the first proponents of Concretism in Brazil, spearheading ground-breaking exhibitions with a clear ideology and manifesto. Their actions were to completely transform the artistic landscape in Brazil and prefigure the now well-known future generation of Neo-Concretism. Lauand was the only woman to ever participate in Grupo Ruptura and the later works exhibited in the show date to 1959, the last year of the group’s existence. The work of Judith Lauand is an unique contribution to the exploration of Concretism in Brazil over this incredibly influential time.

Lauand’s rigorous modus operandi is immediately evident in her group of works as each gouache, drawing, collage and painting was systematically catalogued and preserved by the artist with a unique number. These works on paper remained unseen and united as a whole set for over fifty years.

Her meticulous practice is also revealed in the mathematical rigour and precision of the works. Lauand’s loyalty to Concretism is unmistakeable, and yet the distinct freedom of her approach is also powerfully evident in her extraordinary dialogue with form, space, colour and rhythm.

Submitted by Galeria Berenice Arvani