Independent Group
Peter Smithson, Eduardo Paolozzi, Alison Smithson, Nigel Henderson
The Independent Group (IG) consisted of British artists who wanted to challenge the prevailing modernist approach. They met at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London, UK, from 1952 to 1955.
The IG introduced mass culture into debates about high culture, re-evaluating modernism. The group is regarded as the precursor to the pop art movement in Britain.
The IG had its first meeting early in 1952, which consisted of artist and sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi feeding a mass of colourful images from American magazines through an epidiascope.
Apart from Paolozzi, key members at this stage included the painter and collage-maker Richard Hamilton and the photographer Nigel Henderson, amongst others.
The second session in 1954 focused on American mass culture such as Western movies, billboards, and popular music. In the course of such discussions, they drew upon futurist, surrealist, Bauhaus, and dada concepts.
In 1956 the group came to wider public attention with its seminal exhibition ‘This Is Tomorrow’ held at the Whitechapel Gallery, London. The theme was ‘the modern way of living’.
The IG ceased to meet formally after 1955.
The IG introduced mass culture into debates about high culture, re-evaluating modernism. The group is regarded as the precursor to the pop art movement in Britain.
The IG had its first meeting early in 1952, which consisted of artist and sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi feeding a mass of colourful images from American magazines through an epidiascope.
Apart from Paolozzi, key members at this stage included the painter and collage-maker Richard Hamilton and the photographer Nigel Henderson, amongst others.
The second session in 1954 focused on American mass culture such as Western movies, billboards, and popular music. In the course of such discussions, they drew upon futurist, surrealist, Bauhaus, and dada concepts.
In 1956 the group came to wider public attention with its seminal exhibition ‘This Is Tomorrow’ held at the Whitechapel Gallery, London. The theme was ‘the modern way of living’.
The IG ceased to meet formally after 1955.
Independent Group adapted from Wikipedia and licensed by The Cultural Me under CC BY SA 3.0