Al Hansen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Al Hansen
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Al Hansen, 1994 in San Francisco
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| Born | 5 October 1927 |
| Died | 21 June 1995 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | American, Norwegian |
Alfred Earl "Al" Hansen (born October 5, 1927 – died June 22, 1995) was a cool American artist. He was part of a group called Fluxus. This was an art movement where artists worked together. They often created art that was different and surprising.
Al Hansen was also the father of artist Bibbe Hansen. He was the grandfather and art teacher for the famous musician Beck and artist Channing Hansen. Bibbe and Channing still perform some of Al Hansen's most famous artworks today.
Contents
Al Hansen's Life and Art
Early Life and Creative Acts
Al Hansen was born in New York City. He was friends with famous artists like Yoko Ono and John Cage. During World War II, while in Germany, Hansen did something unusual. He pushed a piano off the roof of a five-story building.
This act later became a big part of one of his best-known art performances. It was called the Yoko Ono Piano Drop. Many other artists have also used or changed pianos in their art.
Studying Art and Joining Fluxus
In 1958, Hansen studied with the composer John Cage. This was at a famous class in New York City. Other artists like Dick Higgins and George Brecht were also in the class.
Hansen often visited The Factory, which was Andy Warhol's art studio in New York. Hansen became well-known for his performance art. These were live events where the artist performed an action. He also took part in "Happenings", which were like spontaneous art events.
Unique Collages and Writings
Al Hansen was also famous for his collages. A collage is art made by gluing different materials onto a surface. Hansen often used unusual items like cigarette butts and candy bar wrappers. He made many artworks based on the ancient Venus of Willendorf sculpture using these materials.
In 1965, he wrote an important book about performance art. It was called A Primer of Happenings and Time Space Art.
Teaching and Later Years
In the 1970s, Hansen worked as an art professor. He taught at Rutgers College in New Jersey. Later, in the 1980s, Hansen moved to Cologne, Germany. There, he started his own art school called the Ultimate Akademie. This school became a place for artists from all over the world to meet and create.
Al Hansen passed away in Cologne, Germany, in 1995. His friends held a special "Fluxus funeral" for him, just as he had planned.
Notable Artworks
Al Hansen's art can be found in many important museums. Here are some of his famous pieces:
- Yes She He, around 1962, at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.
- Coco Was a Poco Loco about Cacao and Men, 1968, at the MoMA in New York, NY
- John Cage Word Opera, 1972–1976, at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, MN
- Amazone Venus 3/9 1994, at the Kölnisches Stadtmuseum in Cologne, Germany
- Yayoi Kusama's Yokohama Hammock 1963, at the Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien in Vienna, Austria
Images for kids
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Al Hansen, 1994 in San Francisco
