Futurism

Futurism

Futurism began in the Italian Culture in 1909 this was because an Italian poet whose name was Filippo Marninetti had published a manifesto on a newspaper in France, which was a very popular at that time. The manifesto was against everything that was old, dull, feminine and safe and in favour of the beauty of speed of vehicles, machinery and urban crowds. Marinetti wanted something bring something new to that age, which was original and change the era at that time. Over the years more manifestos were published in favour of the ‘’machine age’’.  The Futurism movement were  also in favour of  war because they thought was positive in a way that it would bring new ideas and get rid of the past works.

Some other leading artists included of Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Carlo Carra and Gino Severni.

The futurism movement rejected the past, they even wanted their supporters to look down on the academies and museums. They were also going against artists that painted the nude.

The futurists wanted their work to look as modern and high tech as possible.

Antonio Sant Elia

An artists that lived during the Futurism movement is Antonio Sant Elia who was born April 30th 1888 in Como Italy and passed away on October 10th 1916. He was an Italian architecture, famous for his unrealistic drawings of the future. He was deeply inspired by the urban cities of the United States.While practicing architecture in Milan Italy, Antonio was then introduces to the Futurists movement, it is said that he then joined the movement in 1914. His style of drawing was very futuristic. His concepts were exaggerated drawings of monolithic skyscrapers large bridges and walkways, of how he had imagined the cities to be in the future. Although Antonio died at a young age his Futurist Manifesto that he published in 1914 is still well know and inspiring for many artists around the world. 

Antonio Sant Elia Futurist Manifesto

Antonio Sant Elia Futurist Manifesto

 

Drawing that Antonio Sant'Elia included in his August 1914 Futurist Maifesto. Predating many avant-garde designs of architecture that were made a few years later around Europe. 

Metropolis

Metropolis s a classic 1927 silent, black and white film by German director Fritz Lang. The film features a futuristic urban world. The architecture of the Metropolis world is influenced by a lot of architectural styles, one of them being the Futurist architecture. In the film you could see future civilization and view of the cities of how the futurists movement thought the world would look like in the future. You could also see a good example of buildings with long dynamic lines strong chrome colours and modernism.

Film stills from Metropolis 1926

Aesop

Aesop is a brand of skincare products originating from Australia. For their new collection of seasonal Gift Kits branding they introduced new packaging, that was inspired from the Futurist manifesto by F.T Marinetti.  They took the language, art and typography used by the Futurists and created a unique project.

The Gift Kits packaging and branding by Aesop.

Futurism was not a movement that lasted for a long time because most of the artist that where part of it, ended up dying in the War, but it will always be a great inspiration of modern design and although it was quite a negative movement it still left a mark in the history of arts. 

Reference

Marinetti, F. (2016) Futurism movement, artists and Major Works. Available at: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-futurism.htm (Accessed: 14 May 2016).

Futurism (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurism (Accessed: 14 May 2016).

Modern architecture: Futurist architecture (no date) Available at: http://www.solarflarestudios.com/demosites/architecture/futurist.htm (Accessed: 14 May 2016).

Antonio Sant’Elia (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Sant%27Elia (Accessed: 14 May 2016).

SANT’ELIA’S WORDS (2009) Available at: https://lebbeuswoods.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/santelias-words/ (Accessed: 14 May 2016).

Beauty love of the week: Aesop’s futurist assembly kit | fashion magazine | news. Fashion. Beauty. Music (2013) Available at: http://www.oystermag.com/beauty-love-of-the-week-aesops-futurist-assembly-kit (Accessed: 14 May 2016).

AESOP (no date) Available at: http://anotherslang.com/aesop/ (Accessed: 14 May 2016).

Prinsi, E.U. (2013) Metropolis: Futurism to future living. Available at: http://www.port-magazine.com/design/metropolis-futurism-to-future-living/ (Accessed: 14 May 2016).