Nul Group

In 1961, Dutch artists Armando, Jan Schoonhoven, Henk Peeters, and Jan Henderikse cofounded the Nul Group (formerly known as The Dutch Informal Group), organizing its first show, the “International Exhibition of NOTHING,” at Amsterdam’s Galerie 201 (“nul” in Dutch means “zero” or “nothing”). Closely tied to Germany’s Group Zero, the Nul Group called for the end of personal expression in art, instead favoring pragmatism and objectivity. The group believed that art making was akin to manufacturing—the idea behind the work was primary, while the construction process was almost irrelevant. Its works, which were frequently monochromatic and composed of repeated forms, often contained found objects like steel bolts and matchboxes. The group disbanded in 1966 when its artists began to develop their own individual styles.