Aleksander Rodchenko- Constructivism

FanPhobia.com. 2013. Aleksander Rodchenko. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.fanphobia.net/profiles/alexander-rodchenko/. [Accessed 26 January 14].

Aleksander Rodchenko was born in 1891 in Russia. He was a profound artist and designer and used many mediums which included painting, photography, sculpture, advertising and packaging. His work was influenced by the Russian Revolution of 1917. He was one of the most constructive artists of that period. He became a member of the Productivists whose ideal was to introduce art into everyday life. This ideal still is used by modern day graphic designers. Originally he focused on painting, but then experimented with photography and photo-montage and started his career as a graphic designer. His work produced advertisements, posters, logos and even book covers. Rodchenko's work influenced many designers of the 20th century.

Design is History. no date. Aleksander Rodchenko. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.designishistory.com/1920/aleksander-rodchenko/. [Accessed 26 January 14].

A photo-montage designed in 1924 for a Moscow publisher by Rodchenko

Rodchenko used Lilya for many of his photo-montages. She was a very powerful personality who inspired people at the time. The most famous photo-montage that he created of her is above. This poster shows Lilya with her hand to a wide open mouth shouting ''Books!''. This was produced in 1924 for Moscow Publisher. This image has proved to be the most imitated image of that era, in modern age it has been used and adapted by the band Franz Ferdinand for their second album cover.

This album cover has many similarities to the poster before. Apart from the obvious image of the woman, they have used the simple design in imagery which was typical of the Constructivism period. The main colours and geometry of the design are also typical of those used before. The typeface used is sans serif, where by Rodchenko's photo-montage used serif which was also primarily used by Constructivists. This design was produced by Matthew Cooper.

—Graphic Design – The Sequel. 2013. Constructivist Influence in the 21st Century. [ONLINE] Available at: http://ncsgraphicsguy2.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/constructivist-influence-in-the-21st-century/. [Accessed 26 January 14].

The Telegraph. 2008. Lilya Brik: a very Soviet siren. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3670628/Lilya-Brik-a-very-Soviet-siren.html. [Accessed 26 January 14].

Constructivism

Constructivism first appeared in Russia in the early 1920's. It became popularly known as Russian Constructivism; this was influenced by new developments in theatre, film and literature. All mediums were affected, new designs appeared in sculpture, painting, photography and even architecture.

It all began with a group of Russian artists that wanted to go further then abstract art and turn it to practical design work. After the Revolution of 1917, designers wished to create a new visual environment, incorporating the new Communist order.

International Constructivism had a broader Western art that developed around 1922 till the end of the 1920's. This was primarily present around Germany. International Constructivism was inspired by the Russian Counterpart. The term 'Constructivism' is still often used when wishing to achieve abstract art using visual elements such as lines and planes. The forms are clear, orderly, simplistic and precise; materials used are usually plastic and metal.

Techniques tend to be of constructing sculpture from separate forms, rather than modelling or carving. A prime example of this technique was originally developed by Pablo Picasso in 1912, and Vladimir Tatlin in 1914. The first public show of the Constructivists took place on 22nd May 1921. Their exhibitions showed forms from skeletal to engineering structures using glass, metal and wood.

[Guitar by Pablo Picasso] 1912. [image online] Available at: <http://www.slipperysnake.co.uk/educational-materials/art/famous-painters/pablo-picasso/> [Accessed 2 December 2013].

[Corner Counter-relief by Vladimir Tatlin] 1914. [image online] Available at: <http://www.museothyssen.org/microsites/exposiciones/2006/Vanguardias/museo/museo_sala2_ing.html> [Accessed 2 December 2013].

Furniture took on a more simplistic visual appearance with ideas for creating space. Mainly made of wood, these space-saving creations became popular as limited living conditions drew on these collapsible, storable pieces of furniture.

Posters and Magazine covers also took on a new look; they began to appear with photomontages. Typography was bold with abstract designs.

The Constructivists managed to make a hit with Textile designers and quickly built up a mass-produced textile market, old floral designs were exchanged for new geometric, colourful designs. Unfortunately, it seemed difficult to enter other factories, as they were still recovering from seven years prior conflict and were not keen to take on new ideas. Even the government seemed reluctant to promote any new, modern ideas.

By 1925, the constructivist ideas made their way into Architecture, with the first buildings (Ginzburg's Ingosstrakh apartments) being erected in 1926.

[Moisei Ginzburg, Gosstrakh apartment complex in Moscow] 1926. [image online] Available at: < http://rosswolfe.wordpress.com/> [Accessed 2 December 2013].

MoMA, 2013. Constructivism, 2009. [online] Available at: <http://www.moma.org/collection/details.php?theme_id=10955&displayall=1#skipToContent> [Accessed 27 November 2013].

MoMA, 2013. Constructivism 1) Russian, 2009. [online] Available at: <http://www.moma.org/collection/details.php?theme_id=10955&section_id=T019195#skipToContent> [Accessed 27 November 2013].

MoMA, 2013. Constructivism 2) International, 2009. [online] Available at: <http://www.moma.org/collection/details.php?theme_id=10955&section_id=T019199#skipToContent> [Accessed 27 November 2013].

René Lalique- Art Deco

Lalique was born in the late 19th century and from an early age showed a love for art and nature. He went into the jewellery trade, but continued to study Art. He took up sculpturing, but still designed jewellery on a freelance basis. His designs were original and his work took him to famous jewellers such as Cartier.

His jewellery designs are typical of the Art Nouveau style. Once Lalique opened his new workshop in Paris, he began to manufacture glass and experiment in glass design. He initially integrated glass into his jewellery collection, but later on began to produce perfume bottles, mirrors, lamps, tableware and chandeliers. His masterpiece was a glass fountain which was the typical symbol of French Art Deco. After he held his first exhibition showing just his glassware, he abandoned his jewellery designs to focus on his glass designing and manufacturing. His style, even though geometric, still incorporated softer sculptures of flora, fauna and the female form. The glass used was mainly a contrast of clear and frosted glass, with sometimes a slight colouring within the glass itself.

LALIQUE. no date. René Lalique, revolutionary artist. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.lalique.com/en_GB/esprit/lalique-spirit-1/rene-lalique-1#/en_GB/lalique-spirit/rene-lalique-1/rene-lalique-revolutionary-artist-en-gb-91. [Accessed 26 January 14].

A Directory of Art Deco Designers. no date. René Jules Lalique. [ONLINE] Available at: http://home.freeuk.net/eastburytech/GCSE-Resouce/art-deco-biography.htm#lalique. [Accessed 26 January 14].

Bacchantes vases by René Lalique

This typical Bacchantes vase is elaborately decorated with a frieze of Greek women in various poses. It has a wide mouth and measures around 25cm. It was first shown in the 1927 Harris Exposition show. It is probably the most famous vase René Lalique produced. The vase was manufactured in clear, slightly coloured glass and also with rare frosted glass and it is still produced like this today. The blue colour is a blue staining through the opalescent glass.

Finesse Fine Art. 2003. 1927 Lalique Opalescent Bacchantes Vase. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.finesse-fine-art.com/Showcase/Lalique/BacchantesOpal/index.htm. [Accessed 26 January 14].

Heinrich Hoffmann vase

This Bacchantes vase was actually created by a Czechoslovakian company called Heinrich Hoffmann. The quality was as good as Lalique's, sometimes even better. Hoffmann , like Lalique, began producing glass during Art Nouveau, but into Art Deco. Even though this piece is a reflection of Lalique's Bacchantes vase, it is still very valuable. During the time frame it was made Lalique's glassware was highly popular, so lesser known makers tried to take some share of the market, in fact a lot of glassware, very similar to Lalique's was produced in Czechoslovakia.

AntiqueAppraise.com. 2013. Lalique,Contemporary or Reproduction. [ONLINE] Available at: http://antique-appraise.com/index.php/laliquecontemporary-reproduction/. [Accessed 26 January 14].

Art Deco

[Jazz jar and cover, Enouch Boulton] 1928. [image online]. Victoria & Albert Museum, London. [Accessed 22 November 2013].

Following on from the Art Nouveau era came the next new style of Art Deco, which was developed with the intention of reducing the intricate decoration and focusing more on the function and practicality of the object. This new style became so called in the 1960's, but actually ran from the 1920's and through the depression of the 1930's. Art Deco was so modern it covered many areas and topics. It represented many different ideas and was used in everything from decorations to fashion to the film and photography industry.

It's popularism raced over the world, reaching countries as far as China and America. It's designs showing on anything from exclusive works of art to products manufactured in the lower end of the mass market.

Art Deco produced a free spirit in artistic design, it allowed the imagination to fantasise. It mixed together old traditional ideas with new modern ones. It transfused historic styles with Avant Garde images and also threw in a touch of the new machine age. It didn't omit the inclusion of African art or Egyptian styles.

[Vogue Red Blocks cup and saucer, Eric Slater]1930-1931. [image online] Victoria & Albert Museum, London. [Accessed 22 November 2013].

[Sunray vase, Clarice Cliff] 1929. [image online] Victoria & Albert Museum, London. [Accessed 22 November 2013].

Victoria and Albert Museum, 2013. [online] Available at: <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco/> [Accessed 22 November 2013].

Art Deco around the World

Art Deco quickly spread its wings out over the world, this was dramatically helped by the new age of communication. The many travels of the wealthy across the world did well to spread this new found style. Magazines were becoming popular with the rich and famous, these too helped to popularise the Art Deco vivid style. To many people Art Deco meant the beginning of a new modern era.

 

Japan

As Japan was being dramatically transformed and cities such as Tokyo were rapidly growing, a new urban culture began to develop. Westernised department stores, cinemas, and restaurants began appearing on the Eastern Skyline. This mix of East and West had a great impact on the Art Deco style where designers infused the two cultures to produce amazing work. After the capital suffered a major earthquake many new buildings were erected using Art Deco styles.

[The Modern Song (Modan bushi), K.Kotani] 1930. [image online]  Color lithograph, ink on paper, 16 x 20 in. Photograph courtesy of The Levenson Collection. Available at: <http://www.japansociety.org/event/deco-japan-shaping-art-and-culture-19201945> [Accessed 26 November 2013].

India

The elite and middle classes of India were very westernised and so, Art Deco had a major influence on them. Many Maharajahs actually commissioned European designers to design their palaces. As with Tokyo, Bombay's seafront became a hub of Art Deco apartments. This resulted in the younger generations abandoning their cultural multi-generation homes and moving to this new modern western styled area.

[The New India Assurance Building, Mumbai, India] n.d. [image online] Available at: <http://www.veniceclayartists.com/demolition-and-buffalo-karma-in-chennai/> [Accessed 26 November 2013].

Travel & Transportation

Ocean liners were probably the greatest symbol of Art Deco. They were elegant, sophisticated and comfortable and became icons of high style. The most luxurious Ocean Liner was the Normandie, it was decorated by French Art Deco designers. Trains also became more streamlined, faster and more comfortable.

Victoria and Albert Museum, 2013. [online] Available at: <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco-around-the-world/> [Accessed 22 November 2013].

Art Deco: Exotic and Moderne

Exotic

Art Deco designs also included many exotic fauna and flora. This wide choice of topics covered delicate motifs, such as; lotus flowers, birds of paradise and even dancing girls. Materials used were also exotic ,such as; ebony & ivory.

The most outstanding use of this exotic Art Deco was found in the International Colonial Exhibition which was held in Paris in 1931. The whole decorative scheme used this Exotic Art Deco.

[French Art Deco Tulip Form Walnut Accent Table with Exotic Wood "Star" Inlay] n.d [image online] Available at: <http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/tables/coffee-tables-cocktail-tables/french-art-deco-exotic-walnut-star-inlay-accent-table/id-f_430749/> [Accessed 26 November 2013].

Moderne

Designs made a turn towards the more modern abstract and geometric forms by the late 1920's. New cheaper materials began entering the manufacturing market due to the Depression of the 1930's. The demand for cheaper consumer goods had a drastic effect on the luxury market. Exotic materials began to be replaced by Chrome, aluminium, glass and plastic. These were more suited to the mass production industry as they could be adapted to create the same visual effect of the previous more luxurious products. 

[Pair of Streamline Moderne Art Deco Tubular Chrome Chairs] n.d [image online] Available at: <http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/lounge-chairs/pair-of-streamline-moderne-art-deco-tubular-chrome-chairs/id-f_422425/> [Accessed 26 November 2013].

Victoria and Albert Museum, 2013. [online] Available at: <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco-exotic-and-moderne/> [Accessed 23 November 2013].

 

Organic Architecture

As the name suggests, Organic Architecture tends towards nature. Rather than just thinking environmentally friendly, the idea behind this type of architecture actually brings nature to the forefront and adapts buildings to the habitat, thus avoiding eyesores.

Organic Architecture develops on the idea of sustainability and giving preference to the least possible impact on nature and its surroundings, therefore it creates a connection with nature itself.

When architects use Organic Architecture as a basis for their designs, they will produce a design from the inside of the building to the outside, this being the opposite to conventional architectural designs. The idea behind this is following nature itself which develops from the inside out, adapting itself to its surroundings.

The founder of Organic Architecture was an architect called Frank Lloyd Wright. To him the word organic described precisely his philosophy of architecture. Wright believed in a phrase that he loved to use, 'Form and function are one', using nature as the ultimate model.

''Organic'' brings to mind something that is naturally occurring, yet in Organic Architecture the principal is to build a form that is more natural than nature itself.

As the name suggests, all materials used should respect nature so, the most popular construction material would obviously be wood, even though it is becoming popular to use glass and steel, as they provide space and light. The building should be built into its surroundings not on it. Where there is a natural flow of water, this should be incorporated into the design of the building.

“So here I stand before you preaching organic architecture: declaring organic architecture to be the modern ideal and the teaching so much needed if we are to see the whole of life, and to now serve the whole of life, holding no ‘traditions’ essential to the great TRADITION. Nor cherishing any preconceived form fixing upon us either past, present or future, but—instead—exalting the simple laws of common sense—or of super-sense if you prefer—determining form by way of the nature of materials...”

— Frank Lloyd Wright, An Organic Architecture, 1939

[Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright] n.d. Available at: <http://www.fallingwater.org/img/home_assets/shading.png> [Accessed 24 November 2013].

organicarchitect, 1997-2013. Organic Architecture. [online] Available at: <http://www.organicarchitect.com/organic/#axzz2l7aFC9cf> [Accessed 21 November 2013].

Organic Architecture, n.d. Legacy: Essay. [online] Available at: <http://www.pbs.org/flw/legacy/essay1.html> [Accessed 21 November 2013].