André Bloc

André Bloc (Algiers, May 23, 1896 – New Delhi, November 8, 1966) was a French sculptor, magazine editor, and founder of several specialist journals. He founded the "Groupe Espace" in 1949.

His work is related to that of architects Auguste Perret, Henri Sauvage, and Jourdain.

Biography
Bloc's house in Italy, called “La Scala”, in Portese del Garda of San Felice del Benaco, a villa built between 1956 and 1958 and commissioned by André Bloc to Vittoriano Viganò. Photo by Paolo Monti.
Bloc's house “La Scala”. Photo by Paolo Monti.

Born in Algeria, he moved to France in 1898. He studied engineering until 1920, then worked in motor and turbine factories.

In 1921 he met Le Corbusier who became influential in his career. After this meeting, Bloc moved towards architecture.

In 1922 he became the general secretary of the journal Science et Industrie. One year later, in 1923, he became the general secretary of the journal "Revue de l'ingénieur".

In 1924 he founded the journal "Revue général du Caoutchouc". In 1930 he founded the renowned journal L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui.[1] Bloc ran the publication until 1966. He appointed Pierre Vago as editor-in-chief in 1932.

Starting in 1940, Bloc turned towards sculpture. He created his first large sculptures in Paris between 1949 and 1956. From 1949 on, he founded several journals, such as "Art d'Aujourd'hui." These projects were part of his perennial interest in the synthèse des arts, or synthesis of the arts.[2][3]

In 1951, in company with several artists, Bloc formed the group Espace. Its goal was to bring the ideals of constructivism and neo-plasticism to urbanism and the social arena. Artists and urbanists such as Jean Dewasne, Etienne Bóthy, Jean Gorin, Félix Del Marle, Edgard Pillet, Victor Vasarely, Sonia Delaunay, Nicolaas Warb (née Sophie Warburg), Simone Servanes and Nicolas Schöffer were members of the group, which considered architecture, painting, sculpture and art in general as a social phenomenon.

In 1952 the project and construction of the Bellevue house at Meudon was finished. From then until his death in 1966, Bloc worked primarily as a sculptor and decorator. In 1959 he participated at "documenta II" in Kassel. Bloc completed several sculptures, including pieces in Tehran, Nice, Jacksonville, and Dakar. His sculptures demonstrate an organic sculptural form somewhere between architecture and sculpture.

Literary works
  • L'Architecture d'aujourd'hui, 1930
  • Aujourd'hui, 1955.
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References
  1. "L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui | Revue d'architecture depuis 1930". L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  2. Nicola, Pezolet (2018). Reconstruction and the synthesis of the arts in France, 1944-1962. Abingdon, Oxon. ISBN 9781138686878. OCLC 985447466.
  3. Larry., Busbea (2007). Topologies : the urban utopia in France, 1960-1970. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. ISBN 978-1282098725. OCLC 614557251.
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