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Post-modernism

Post modernism

This movement one of the most controversial movements on the 20th Century. The style Post Modernism started on March 16th 1972. Modernism had the idea to create a better word and thought there was always room for improvement, they stuck to the saying ‘’Less is More’’ by Mies van der Rohe but Post Modernists thought of it differently, they though ‘’Less was Boring’’. Post-modernists wanted a new type of style with freedom. This was not just a movement of style but even from a philosophical point of view. This style was visually exciting and adventures. Postmodernism art was all over the place with many different styles of art. Post modernists rebelled against perfection that was created by the previews movement ‘’ Modernism’’. They wanted to challenge people, and get them to question everything around them. And why things are the way they are and why they aren’t.

Characteristics of post-modernism

Colourful

Sculptural forms

Ornaments

Pastiche

Collage

Irony

Playfulness

Black Humour

Architecture in Post- modernism

This style started as an international style, some of the first architectural post modernism buildings take us back to the 1950’s but it hadn’t become a movement until the 1970s.Decorations and abstract elements started to show in buildings as well. This was a rebellious way to trash modernism architecture. Postmodern architecture was not perfect in form and included a lot of different materials, methods and colours and strived for meaning and expression. Freedom was also seen in architecture and architects were not restricted to modernism objectives. Instead of focusing on getting the work of art close to perfection like modernists they wanted to achieve a new artistic form. Post modernisms architecture is viewed as an American movement, because it’s where it all started and later on moved to Europe.

Famous architects of the movement –

Robert Venturi ‘’Less is Bore’’

Philip Johnson

Michael Graves ‘’Good design should be accessible to all’’

Flat roofs were being replaced with gable roofs, columns also came back but more as an aesthetic and feature, colour was being used again to give life to buildings.

Famous Buildings –

Double Coding

This was a tall skyscraper built for Sony in New York City, designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. It was not an extravagant building for this movement but it still had postmodernism elements such as ornamental elements, granite cladding, Chippendale roof line that was inspired from furniture, brass and marble in the interior. 

Vanna Venturi House,
This was a house built in Philadelphia by the famous postmodernism architect Robert Venturi. This was a house built for his mother. This was a building that Venturi demonstrated some of the new styles of postmodernism and is known to be one of the first examples of postmodernism architecture. Like many other postmodernism architecture, this house includes some ornamental features like a square opening in the center of the facade and also an arch as decoration. The house had a chimney in the center and a lot of windows which aren’t aligned.

Post-modernism Furniture

The Memphis Group

This was a group of Italian designers and architectures, that designed postmodern furniture and architecture. It was founded by Ettore Sottsass in 1981. He was the creator of some famous works that included the Cartlon bookshelf and Max. This group produced works with bright vivid colours, geometric patterns, different shapes, unique designs with unusual materials. The Memphis group was inspired by the Art Deco and Pop Art movements. Their aim was to create a new way of design and create fun and interesting pieces.

Ettore Sottsass, Carlton Room Divider, 1981. Plastic laminate

Marco Zanini, Dublin (sofa), 1981, made out of plastic laminate, metal, and synthetic fabric

Super Lamp by Martine Bedin for Memphis Milano, 1981

Reference -

Postmodern architecture (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodern_architecture (Accessed: 27 May 2016).

550 Madison Avenue (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/550_Madison_Avenue (Accessed: 27 May 2016).

Encyclopedia (2016) Encyclopedia.Com articles about postmodernism. Available at: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/postmodernism.aspx (Accessed: 27 May 2016).

Postmodern architecture (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodern_architecture (Accessed: 27 May 2016).

Robert Venturi (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Venturi#Architecture (Accessed: 27 May 2016).

Vanna Venturi house (2015) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanna_Venturi_House (Accessed: 27 May 2016).

Memphis group (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Group (Accessed: 27 May 2016).

designyourworld (2010) Travel. Available at: http://italychronicles.com/italian-design-focus-on-the-memphis-design-movement/ (Accessed: 27 May 2016).

Minimalism and De Stijl

Minimalism 

Minimalism began in the 1950’s as a reaction to the Abstract Expressionism and continued in 1960-70’s. It is also known as the ABC art. Style highlights include of simple, clean, abstract, geometric, repetition, and use of industrial materials. Deeply influenced by Japanese traditional design and architecture and De Stijl. They wanted to eliminate emotions and meaning from their work and stuck to the saying ‘’Less is more’’. When possible they reduced the work to its simplest form meaning it had least colours, shapes and textures. Colours were not used to express moods or feelings unlike Abstract Expressionism, Soft colours or primary colours were usually used in minimalistic work. Minimalists rejected ornaments and decorative styles, this movement wanted to bring design to its most basic form with a purpose and allow the viewer to have an immediate connection with the art.

Famous artists of this movement –

Donald Judd, Agnes Martin, Frank Stella and Robert Morris.

Donald Judd

Donald Judd was born 1928 and passed away in 1994, he was an American artist that is known for his minimalistic creations. Judd wanted to create simple constructed objects put out in an open space that created a composition. His work defined the meaning of minimalism. Judd created hi art by using materials like steel, concrete and plywood. He created Minimalist sculptures in different repetitive forms. He used fabricated materials for his work that gave his work a machine –made aesthetic.

Donald Judd 1928-1994 | Minimalist Art Movement

Donald Judd - Untitled, 1966

De Stijl (Meaning ‘The Style’) 1917-1931 

De Stijl also known as Neo-Plasticism is an art and design movement that originated in Holland by painters, designers and artists. Its founders were Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg. This movement simplified and abstracted art by using asymmetrical balance or rectangles, planes, verticals, horizontals, the use of primary colours along with black white and grey. Designers wanted to create a new way of doing architecture. This movement had the aim to make art simple and to the most basic form.

Architectural Characteristics

- Flat roof

- Asymmetry

- Geometric forms

- Primary colours and grey walls

- Rectangular shapes for windows and doors.

- Different window sizes that were arranged in a pattern.



Theo Van Doesburg was the founder of De Stijl, he was a Dutch artist that created abstract paintings.

Piet Mondrian, one of the founders of the movement De Stijl, he is known for his abstract art as well, he created work that was simple and included a lot of shapes, lines and primary colours.

Gerrit Rietveld

Gerrit Rietveld was an architect and furniture designer and was part of the De Stijl movement, he is most famous for his Red and Blue chair design (1917) were he made us of straight panels (rectangles) with square volumes. Until the 1920s he hadn’t painted it in any colours but then thought he should add a touch of the colours; red, blue and black, that were known to be the colours of the movement. Rietveld wanted to achieve simplicity through his work. We don’t have many examples of De Stijl architecture around us but The Shroder House in Holland by Gerrit Rietveld is one good example. It was built in 1924 for Mrs Truus Schröder-Schräder, she wanted a house with least walls so there would be a connection with the outside world and the inside. This house was all covered in the primary colours and made out of geometric shapes. the structure was made out of reinforced concrete and steel profiles. With walls made of bricks and plaster, the house was all covered with windows so there would be a lot of light going through. All the rooms of the house had access to the outdoors and had wood flooring. This is still an icon modern architectural building because Rietveld achieved to create a functional house with a De Stijl style.

when comparing De Stijl and Minimalism you can clearly see how the Minimalism was deeply influenced by De Stijl style.

Refernece -

Theo van Doesburg (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_van_Doesburg (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1012758525104533323#editor/target=post;postID=31990815357254363

van Doesburg, T. (2016) De Stijl movement, artists and Major Works. Available at: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-de-stijl.htm (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Red and blue chair (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_and_Blue_Chair (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Hudson, B. (2012) Neo-Plasticism & de Stijl. Available at: http://www.contemporisticon.com/neo-plasticism-de-stijl/ (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

 

A brief visual history of the utopian de Stijl movement (2012) Available at: https://99designs.com/blog/uncategorized/know-your-design-history-the-utopian-de-stijl-movement/ (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Modernism

Modernism 

Modernism started in the Western society, it was a movement that wanted to improve the environment we lived in and make a better society. It is known to be one of the most influential movements of the 20th Century. This was a movement that wanted originality and innovations. Like many other movements they rejected what came before and rejected traditional forms and religious, political and social views. Modernists embraced the new and looked forward to new technologies. This movement influenced all forms of creative expressions. This was not just a style but also a state of mind.

Modernist architectures were fascinated by the new materials being produced with new machine that were being built during the industrial revolution. New materials include of Iron steel, sheet glass and concrete. Because of these materials architecture started to move forward and new building techniques and styles were being introduced to the era.

Some famous architects of that time include of –

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Le Corbusier

Walter Gropius

Erich Mendelsohn

Characteristics of the movement –

Simplicity of forms and elimination of ornaments, they thought that ornaments were unnecessary

The use of horizontal and vertical lines

Smooth finish to walls

Flat Roofs

Asymmetrical buildings

Modular simple furniture

Toned down natural colours

The use of machine made materials (steel, glass and concrete)

Form follows function

Less is more

Minimalism

Le Corbusier, Villa Savoye, Poissy, France, 1929 

The Bauhaus School by Walter Groupius 1919

Erich Mendelsohn, Mosse House in Berlin (built 1921-23)

Other Modernism Archtecture

Schocken department store, Chemnitz, 1930

66 Old Church Street, London, 1936

Illinois Institute of Technology, 1986

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe on Mr Chair that was deigned my himself

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was born on March 27th 1886 and passed away on the 17th of August in 1969, he was an architect and educator. Also known as one of the greatest architects of the 20th Century. Before moving to Berlin, he worked with his father in Germany as a stone carver and later on as an assistant for an architect know as Bruno Paul who specialized in Art Nouveau. After some time, he was noticed for his capabilities and received his first solo project for a house. In 1912 Rohe decided to open his own office in Berlin. His work was very much modern and included a lot of modern materials such as industrial steel and plate glass. You could see in his work that he loved simplicity and opted for a minimalistic style. Rohe is known of saying that his buildings are ‘’skin and bones’’ architecture. Mies was also the director of Bauhaus school from the 1930 until it closed down because of the German government. When his style was rejected by the German Nazis he chose to emigrate to America in 1937. From 1938 to 1958 he was head of the architecture department at the Amour Institute of Technologies in Chicago.

Famous work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe – 

The Barcelona Pavilion 1929

The Barcelona Pavilion is an architectural landmark that can still be found in Barcelona Spain. It was built for the Barcelona International Exposition and used for the opening of the German section of the exhibition. Mies used a combination of steel, travertine onyx and marble. This pavilion is known for it’s modern, simple and minimalistic style. Inside the building you can find the Barcelona Chair which was designed by Mies specifically for the building.

Farnsworth House 1951-1956

This is another famous architectural building by Mies, it was designed in 1951 and later on constructed in 1956. This house consists of just one room and is located in rural setting, southwest of Chicago. It was done for Dr Edith Farnworth, she used it as a weekend retreat to relax and do her hobbies. This house is recognized for its modern domestic style and glass box appearance.



Barcelona Chair 1929

This was a chair designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich. As I said before it was designed specifically for the Barcelona Pavilion. It is known to be one of the oldest classic chairs that is still around us today. It is made out of just leather and stainless steel, this gives it a simple minimalism sleek look. 

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's is still one of the most influential architects of the 20th century and continues to inspire many artists and architects all over. I myself have been inspired and studied his work at school. This year I had two assignments that included his work, one were i had to give realistic materials to the Barcelona pavilion with 3D software and another assignment were i had to draw the Farnsworth house technically. 

Reference - 

Categories (2015) Available at: https://www.architecture.com/Explore/ArchitecturalStyles/Modernism.aspx (Accessed: 20 May 2016).

(No Date) Available at: http://image.slidesharecdn.com/modernarch-141203042410-conversion-gate02/95/modern-architecture-history-7-638.jpg?cb=1417580846 (Accessed: 20 May 2016).

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Mies_van_der_Rohe (Accessed: 20 May 2016).

Farnsworth house (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farnsworth_House (Accessed: 20 May 2016).

Barcelona chair (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona_chair (Accessed: 20 May 2016).

Mies van der Rohe society (2012) Available at: http://www.miessociety.org/legacy/ (Accessed: 20 May 2016).

Art Deco

Art Deco

Art Deco started in Paris in the early 1920's just before World War I and continued till the late 1930’s and spread internationally over the years. It was a very influential movement that inspired a lot of design areas. Art Deco emerged as a modernist reaction to Art Nouveau, both movements happened as a reaction to the industrial revolution and War.

 

Art Deco is a sophisticated and stylish and some of it's characteristics consist of:

Geometrical and vertical/horizontal lines

Angular shapes,

Different materials like; stone, terracotta, brick, inlay wood, steel, aluminium, bronze, tiles, glass and shiny fabrics and exotic materials such as ivory, shark skin and zebra skin.

A lot of ornaments

Styled images of airplanes, cards and cruise liners

Nature motifs like the sunburst, plants and animals.

This is a style that was all about being glamour’s, elegant, modern and functional. Art Deco was inspired by a wide range of previous styles including Cubism, Art Nouveau, De Stijl, Futurism, and by past cultures as well.

Features of Art Deco in architecture –

Horizontal orientation

Rounded edges, corned windows, and glass brick walls

Glass block

Porthole windows

Chrome hardware

Smooth exterior wall surfaces

Horizontal grooves or lines in walls

Colours – light earth tones like off whites and beiges, dark colours used to contrast with the light base.

Auguste Perret and Henri Sauvage

Auguste Perret was a French famous architect that designed early Art Deco architecture and was a specialist in concrete construction. Another important figure for Art deco architecture and design is Henri Sauvage, he not only specialized in art deco but he is also famous for his work in the Art Nouveau movement and also the early modernism architecture. Functional architecture wasn’t his only sector but he was also talented in decoration. One of his famous work that is considered to be the first architecture of the Art Deco movement is the Louis Majorelle.

Palais d'Iéna built in France Paris in 1937 by Auguste Perret

Theatre des Champs Elysees by Auguste Perret (1913)

Studio building, 65 rue Jean de la Fontaine, 16th arrondissement, Paris, (1926–28) by Henri Sauvage

The La Samaritaine department store, Paris (1926-1928) by Henri Sauvage

Art Deco Furniture

Art deco furniture is very collectible today. The pieces of furniture have an elegant form that were done by talented craftsman.   Some of the first pieces were exhibited at the 1925 Paris ‘’Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes’’, this exhibition was dedicated to showcase modern decorative arts. Many art Deco styled furniture were featured in this exhibition from all over Europe and other countries.  This exhibition was heled just after World War I and it ordered the participating designers to exhibit new modern concepts, which later on formed the Art Deco themes and styles. Furniture was made out of good quality wood such as ebony, burl walnut or ash and other expensive materials like wrought iron and glass. This furniture was finished to a very high standard.

Art Deco chair done in 1930 by Ernest Boiceau

Art Deco Pendant Light with Skyscraper Globe, c. 1930’s - Preservation Station, Nashville, TN

A Pair of Art Deco Armchairs Sweden Circa 1920 - 1930 

Streamline Art Deco design armchair, 1930s, by Karl Emmanuel Martin Weber (1889 -1963)

                                                                           Art Deco Drinks Cabinet By Andrew Varah

The shops at the exhibition wanted to ta attract people from all over and wanted Paris to be the place for shopping. Shops had luxury goods and gave good attention to window displays so they would attract more people. Pierre Imans was a French mannequin manufacturer at that time, he designed new designs of fashion mannequins. He created better material with a shinier glossy finish, wax heads and glass eyes. The woman’s mannequins were quite flat chested with a pear shape figure and were posed in a sophisticated pose, so it gave a good idea how the clothing would fit on a real body. The French Mannequin company Siegel & stockman created more abstracted, simplified and geometric figures of mannequins which were inspired from Cubist, avant-garde art and abstract art.  Art Deco influenced many art sectors and fashion was one of them, Paul Poiret was the founder of art deco fashion, he was deeply influenced by the Ballets Russes. Art Deco fashion was influenced by western fashion and exotic influences from Egypt. Characteristics of art deco fashion are simplicity in form, richness in colour, textured fabrics.

1920 S, Window Display, Paris 1920, 1920S Lingerie

Art Deco Influences

Fashion -

A designer label that was deeply influenced by the Art Deco movement in Spring 2012 collection ‘Ready to wear’ was Gucci. This collectition includes a lot of Art Deco infuences like motfits, shiney fabrics, geometric designs and embroidery.

Many Hollywood actresses have worn Art Deco inspired dresses on the red carpet by designers like Versace and Julien MacDonald.

‘Ready to wear’ by Gucci

Versace Atelier FW 2009-2010

Architecture -

The backstage greenroom at the Oscars in 2013 in the Dolby Theatre was all inspired by Art Deco and also ‘’Old Hollywood Glamour’’. It was designed by AD100 interior designer ‘Madeline Stuart’. The greenroom looked elegant, glamour’s and sophisticated just like any Art Deco interior. The seating were upholstered in silks, the floor had geometric designs, the door was in black and gold with rectangular motifs, Art Deco was all over the place.

Art Deco has inspired and influenced many styles over the years. To this day we can still see artists being inspired by the sophisticated and stylish movement and I'm sure it will continue doing just that.

Reference -

Victoria, Museum, A. and webmaster, D.M. (2015) Art deco: The 1925 Paris Exhibition - Victoria and Albert Museum. Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/the-1925-paris-exhibition/ (Accessed: 24 May 2016).

Wentworth, I. (2014) Art deco style (1925-1940). Available at: http://www.wentworthstudio.com/historic-styles/art-deco/ (Accessed: 24 May 2016).

Art deco furniture, A complete guide to the history, sourcing and buying (no date) Available at: http://www.decolish.com/ArtDecoFurniture.html#axzz4A28DnU13 (Accessed: 24 May 2016).

Wallis, L. (2014) The fall and rise of mannequins that look like real women. Available at: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25402020 (Accessed: 24 May 2016).

Blumenthal, F.M., Archive, J.W. and Siegel, M. (2016) ‘Auguste Perret’, in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Perret (Accessed: 24 May 2016).

Henri Sauvage (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Sauvage#Art_Deco (Accessed: 24 May 2016).

Art deco fashion (no date) Available at: http://www.1920s-fashion-and-music.com/art-deco-fashion.html (Accessed: 24 May 2016).

Jeanne (2013) Home. Available at: http://www.cozystylishchic.com/2013/03/trending-now-art-deco/ (Accessed: 24 May 2016).