‘Association des Ecrivains et Artistes Revolutionnaires’ manifesto

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'Dear colleague and comrade,
The problems faced by painters and sculptors are so serious that a revision of values and concepts is imperative.
Obsessed with inner concerns within their arts that the multiple formal tendencies cannot satisfy, thus isolated from the outside world, but shaken by a threatening reality (finance and moral insecurities...crisis...war...), some artists persist in being proud of their indifference to everything that doesn't concern their art. But the social conditions influence the nature and the quality of their work.
The role, socially reduced, given to the artists, the illusion of an independent life, or 'a freedom of art', which results in naturally leading it on the path of rhetoric. Pulling its substance from its own fund, exhausting itself with the exercise of eloquence, Contemporary art, despite the quality and the cultural contribution to some of it, disperses its efforts under the sign of individualism. The co-existence of opposite tendencies, which proliferate in opposite proportion to social demands. The problems that these facts raise about the purpose of the arts, the distress it brings and the feelings of each to live in expectation are only symptoms of a new art in social gestation. 'Social' indifference from the artists only expresses a confused denial of composing with a power inclining towards death.
The old social and economic system is falling apart; it drags everything in its fall. To the extent that it is integrated within it, it degenerates the arts: there will be no miracle. There is no way to subtract it from its decomposition: it's within the classes that it 'grows'. Only then can it restore its true social function. In order to confront the essays, research and the realisation oriented in that direction, 'L'A.E.A.R.' will organise an exhibition in December. The contact that could result will make it possible to identify the only valid directions against the current distress.
We invite you to take part. Wishing you, dear colleagues and comrades our sincere wishes.
Adam Eekman.Herbin F.Jourdain. Laurens.J. Lurcat ozenfant. Rosianu. Signac. Zadkine.Zilzer.'

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