Donald JUDD

"The meaning of my works is only given through the quality of their manufacture and the accuracy of their installation."

 

Donald Judd is the greatest exponent of minimalism. He is an American artist-researcher, born in 1928. He is not only a mouthpiece for the ontological problem of modern sculpture but also one of the greatest contributors to minimalist theory. His art is an example of anti-compositional praxis, availing itself of various strategies such as repetition, seriality, progression, etc., all in a rejection of depth and transcendence. His "specific objects" are identical; their geometric identity, which is nigh-impossible to perceive, disturbs the viewer. While it is impossible, according to Judd, to detect any trace of vanished meaning in his works, they retain the capacity to interact with the historical reality that is their meaning. The nature of the connections forged between the work and its architectural, social and cultural context is also crucial for Judd. In the absence of concrete meaning, each work offers an immersive experience in conditions ideal for its perception.