André Bloc

André Bloc (* May 23, 1896 in Algiers, Algeria, † November 8, 1966 in New Delhi, India), was a French architect, sculptor and publisher and founder of various journals.

Life

André Bloc was born on 23 May 1896 in Algiers. In 1898 he moved with his parents to France. Bloc made ​​until 1920, trained as an engineer and worked as an engineer only in an engine factory and then in a turbine factory.

In 1921 he met Le Corbusier know what influenced him long term. He turned to the architecture. In 1922, he became chief editor of the magazine Science et Industrie, a year later, in 1923 editor of the journal Revue de l' Ingénieur.

In 1924 he founded the journal Revue Générale du Caoutchouc. In 1930, André Bloc, the famous magazine L' Architecture d' Aujourd'hui, which he will head for many years.

As of 1940, his employment began with the sculpture. Bloc made ​​the first large-scale sculptures in Paris in the years 1949 and 1956. In 1949 was again the foundation of a magazine, the Art d' Aujourd'hui.

1951 founded André Bloc with various artists the group Espace. The aim is to transfer the ideas of constructivism and neo- plasticism on urban planning and social spheres. The membership of Espace among the artists and designers Jean Dewasne, Etienne Beothy, Jean Gorin, Felix Del Marle, Edgar Pillet, Victor Vasarely and kineticist Nicolas Schoeffer. Espace wanted to emphasize the unity of architecture, painting and sculpture and themed art as a social phenomenon.

In 1952 the design and construction of the house in Meudon Bellevue ( Maison Bloc) was carried out. After André Bloc worked until 1966 mainly as a sculptor and interior designer. In 1959 he took part in documenta II in Kassel. Bloc has numerous projects, including in Tehran, Nice, Jacksonville and Dakar realized. His sculptures have an organic sculptural form, which is located between architecture and sculpture.

André Bloc died on 8 November 1966 at the age of 70 in New Delhi.

Exhibitions

• 2006 What is plastic? 100 years - 100 heads - A Century of modern sculpture, Stiftung Wilhelm LehmbruckMuseum, MA

Literature and sources

• Exhibition Catalogue: International Plastic: 1935-1965; Max Bill, André Bloc, Victor Brauner et al / Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum of the City of Duisburg, Duisburg 1987