André Bloc
Andre Bloc (1896-1966) was a French sculptor, magazine editor, and founder of a variety of specialist visual journals whose work related closely with the architectural styles of Auguste Perret, Henri Sauvage, and Jourdain. Born in Algeria, Bloc moved to France in 1898, studying engineering before entering the work force at a turbine factory. In 1921, he met Swiss-French architect and designer Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier, which inspired him to explore the visual applications of his background. By the next year, he had become the general secretary of Science et Industrie journal, followed by another post at Revue de I'ingenieur. By 1924, he had founded Revue general du Caoutchouc, and in 1930, he spearheaded renowned publication L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui, which he ran until 1966. By 1940, Bloc had turned his attention towards sculpture, creating large-scale works that furthered his philosophical interest in gesamtkunstwerk, or "synthesis of the arts", the attempt by a work of art to utilize as many forms as possible within a single aesthetic. In 1951, Bloc and a large group of other artists and urbanists founded Espace, which considered architecture, painting, sculpture and art as conceptual, interconnected social phenomena. Until his death in 1966, Block worked …
Andre Bloc (1896-1966) was a French sculptor, magazine editor, and founder of a variety of specialist visual journals whose work related closely with the architectural styles of Auguste Perret, Henri Sauvage, and Jourdain. Born in Algeria, Bloc moved to France in 1898, studying engineering before entering the work force at a turbine factory. In 1921, he met Swiss-French architect and designer Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier, which inspired him to explore the visual applications of his background. By the next year, he had become the general secretary of Science et Industrie journal, followed by another post at Revue de I'ingenieur. By 1924, he had founded Revue general du Caoutchouc, and in 1930, he spearheaded renowned publication L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui, which he ran until 1966. By 1940, Bloc had turned his attention towards sculpture, creating large-scale works that furthered his philosophical interest in gesamtkunstwerk, or "synthesis of the arts", the attempt by a work of art to utilize as many forms as possible within a single aesthetic. In 1951, Bloc and a large group of other artists and urbanists founded Espace, which considered architecture, painting, sculpture and art as conceptual, interconnected social phenomena. Until his death in 1966, Block worked as a sculpture and decorator, focusing on organic forms that toed the line between art and infrastructure.
