Oyvind Fahlstrom (1928-76), the Brazilian-born Swedish multi-artist, is one of the mid-twentieth century’s most intriguing cultural figures. His work, as profoundly political as it is aesthetic, spans two tumultuous decades in the avant-garde world and comprises concrete poetry (his own innovation), manifestos, plays, performance, filmmaking, paintings, multiple prints, sculpture and installations. Initially, poorly received in Sweden and little appreciated in the English-speaking world, Fahlstrom’s role as one of the creators of concrete poetry is now increasingly recognized worldwide.The first study to give this major twentieth-century artist his due, this book serves as both an informative and entertaining introduction to Oyvind Fahlstrom and a valuable critical analysis of some of his most important works. ‘‘Oyvind Fahlstrom: The Art of Writing’’ focuses on how Fahlstrom’s early experiments with concrete poetry influenced his later work in the visual arts and offers a close reading of the seminal work ‘‘Bord’’, the series of paintings ‘‘Ade-Ledic-Nander’’, the radio play ‘‘Birds in Sweden’’, the interactive painting ‘‘The Painting’’ (based on Natalie Sarraute’s novel ‘‘Le planetarium’’), and the series of game-paintings based on the board game Monopoly. Bessa’s ‘‘Oyvind Fahlstrom’’ is without precedent or parallel as an overview of Fahlstrom art, an assessment of his place in twentieth-century cultural history, and an examination of trends and movements, such as concretism, in which he figures large.
