The association (French non-profit organization) abcd (art brut connaissance & diffusion) of public utility, governed by the law of 1901, aims at raising awareness of art brut both in France and abroad, by means of organizing events, exhibitions and any other activities related to this mission as well as by publishing books, editorial supports, and producing films.

 

abcd was born in 1999 at the initiative of Bruno Decharme. It is part of a global project of a filmmaker and a collector whose wish was to open his collection of art brut to the public. Around the first four letters of the alphabet (ABCD - art brut connaissance & diffusion) a research group has gradually formed, bringing together viewpoints as diverse as those of writers, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, historians of art, philosophers, and amateur enthusiasts. A think-tank whose work takes shape through publications, exhibitions, films and field investigation.

 

Since 2011, abcd has expanded its editorial line by joining the Collège International de Philosophie, which has decided to create a seminar on art brut under the direction of Barbara Safarova, over a period of six years. Thanks to the invited speakers, researchers of all backgrounds and disciplines, we wish to pursue our research on art brut. 

abcd has developed its activities abroad thanks to its antenna in Prague – abcd Prague has been founded in 2003 – and also as a result of a number of international exhibitions.

 

In 2004 abcd has opened an exhibition space - abcd, la galerie – dedicated to art brut.

 

Barbara Safarova . president of abcd, Paris

Terezie Zemankova . president of abcd, Prague