Bauhaus exists from 1919-1933.
It was a school created in Germany that combined both fine arts and crafts.
It began in Weimar 1919-1925, it was then moved to Dessau from 1925-1932. Finally it was moved to Berlin 1932-1933.
Opened only for 14 years. Its ironic to think about how it was only opened for these few years and remains as one of the most important school in history.
It makes you wonder what would have happened, or what would have come out if it had lasted say 20 more years. Would it have been the same, would the work have increased in quality, new design eras? would new artists have developed? or would it have decreased in quality through time?
Its an interesting thought to consider.
It was because of the strong oppression by the nazis that the bauhaus artists flourished. Their passion and will became stronger, their anger against the governments injustice became an inspiring motive, which influenced greatly the work created and their desire to revolt.
Walter Gropius was the first director of the Bauhaus.
He takes the form of a cathedral as a metaphor for the three pilars of design (painting, sculpture, and architecture)
The key members (council of masters) from the begingin were:
Gerhard Marks (Sculpture)
Lyonel Feringer
Johannes Itten (foundation of art and design)
Johannes Itten, was what we could say, an "interesting" character. His goal was to release each student's creative ability. He wanted to develop an understanding of the physical nature of materials.
"what is the nature of a particular thing, the structure, what does it do?"
In his class they would compare work, analyse old masters.
At the time, they were creating projects made out of materials they found outside. There was no money in Germany at the time so they were using random materials for their studies.
Beginning with the idea of contrast. Something hard, agains something soft (metal agains wood).
Itten leaves the Bauhaus in 1923, because it starts to move away from this "medievalism and handycraft" which was why Itten had come there in the first place.
A new character come into play, Laslo Moholy-Nagy,he will become the right hand of Gropius.
He used photography to try and develop a new visual language.
Bayer developed the universal alphabet. Experimenting with strokes, bars and contrast.
The Bauhaus was created with the sole purpose of uniting all arts. The constant change of leaders, and directors began to shift the purpose of the school. In 1930 it was taken over by Mies Van Der Roeh, who then converted it into a private school.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Blog Post#8
Bauhaus was and stil remains in history as one of the most important and revolutionary schools of design. Positioned in Berlin Germany, suffered against the government during nazi Germany, a series of artists like Kandinski came out from this school.
Their designs were very simplistic (parallel to the communist regime) based on the importance of form and structure.
interesting fact: the Bauhaus name, hanging on the wall of the Bauhaus building, is one of the few times the use of vertical text has been succesful!
Their designs were very simplistic (parallel to the communist regime) based on the importance of form and structure.
interesting fact: the Bauhaus name, hanging on the wall of the Bauhaus building, is one of the few times the use of vertical text has been succesful!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Blog Post #7
photo-montage starts to become very popular, starting by the fact that photography was seen as a modern form of art.
Artists such as Sergei Ezenstein begin to work with photo-montage as well as the cutting of the images.
Because of the communist and socialist regime of the time in Russia, the films and images looked to show the rising and suffering of the citizens. Showing the high contrast between the social classes. Citizens vs officers, and the power struggle.
the oppression of the government. Putting moral dilemmas into play, an example of this is the section of the baby in the cradle falling down the stairs.
Watching the movie reminded me of home not necessarily in a good way, because my country is currently going through the same situation, which in turn makes us think about the relationship between design today and the design of the 1920’s; and what it is that today’s artist’s are going through and experiencing that gives them inspiration for their work.
I think it’s interesting to relate artists such as Sergei Ezenstein (a 1920s revolutionary) and Jesus Soto (21st century Venezuelan Revolutionary) who in a way experience similar regimes and how their work is guided by this.
Alessandro Rodchenko is another character that appears during the time. He is what we would consider today a graphic designer. His philosophy: if you are creating something for the people, it has moral good.
He also began to be influenced by the supremacist way of thinking.
“Ive reduced painting to its logical conclusion, I affirm, its all over” He said this for his piece of the black, yellow and red square.
1932: Stallin is in power, and the artistic style is abolished, seeing as creativity in a way went against the entire idea of communism.
Constructivism: the only true art has function for the people.
Further on comes Destiyl. A movement developed in the Netherlands, a utopian aproach to easthetics. Looking back into suprematism and constructivism both of these are based on a particular morality. In opposition to this, Destiyl was concentrated on the idea of what makes true art.
- Characteristics of De styjl:
Rectilinear Planes
No texture except pure primary hues.
The best known painter is Mondrian
The founder Theo Van Doesburg, the lider and publisher who dies along with Destyl itself.
Artists such as Sergei Ezenstein begin to work with photo-montage as well as the cutting of the images.
Because of the communist and socialist regime of the time in Russia, the films and images looked to show the rising and suffering of the citizens. Showing the high contrast between the social classes. Citizens vs officers, and the power struggle.
the oppression of the government. Putting moral dilemmas into play, an example of this is the section of the baby in the cradle falling down the stairs.
Watching the movie reminded me of home not necessarily in a good way, because my country is currently going through the same situation, which in turn makes us think about the relationship between design today and the design of the 1920’s; and what it is that today’s artist’s are going through and experiencing that gives them inspiration for their work.
I think it’s interesting to relate artists such as Sergei Ezenstein (a 1920s revolutionary) and Jesus Soto (21st century Venezuelan Revolutionary) who in a way experience similar regimes and how their work is guided by this.
Alessandro Rodchenko is another character that appears during the time. He is what we would consider today a graphic designer. His philosophy: if you are creating something for the people, it has moral good.
He also began to be influenced by the supremacist way of thinking.
“Ive reduced painting to its logical conclusion, I affirm, its all over” He said this for his piece of the black, yellow and red square.
1932: Stallin is in power, and the artistic style is abolished, seeing as creativity in a way went against the entire idea of communism.
Constructivism: the only true art has function for the people.
Further on comes Destiyl. A movement developed in the Netherlands, a utopian aproach to easthetics. Looking back into suprematism and constructivism both of these are based on a particular morality. In opposition to this, Destiyl was concentrated on the idea of what makes true art.
- Characteristics of De styjl:
Rectilinear Planes
No texture except pure primary hues.
The best known painter is Mondrian
The founder Theo Van Doesburg, the lider and publisher who dies along with Destyl itself.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Blog Post#6
Holwein- his work is recognizable because of a symbol he puts on every piece. He’s known for his simplistic style particularly with his experimentation with figure ground interactions.
He is also known for his political propaganda. He worked for the Nazis.
UND DU? the use of an intimidating image to recruit people. His reputation was ruined because of his association with the NAZIS
Mcnight kauffer:
1980 piece the ideas of cubism applied to communication design, and brings into play the notion of negative space.
One of the most recognized poster designers of the time was A.M. Cassander.
As time goes by, structure becomes more and more important (metaphor for the urgent need for sustainability?) People are craving reason, and logic, universal truths.
Artists of the time are looking at science and what the role of art is in society.
etoile du nord pullman = for a train that travels from paris to amsterdam. star: destination, train tracks, the tracks are a reclining person,
Dubonnet campaign: “dubo” coming from the word doubt. It is known as one of the most famous campaigns, If you can manage to get the type to work as art and communication. You’ve got it. Paul Rand reworks on the Du bonnet campaign.
Later on comes the Russian Avant Garde :
The first wave (cubo futurism) taking the ideas of futurism and Cubism, and combining them.
Second wave (supremitism)
Third wave(constructivism)
Cubo Futurism: movement and how to express it, taking advantage of scrap materials in their work.
At the time in russia, people didn't have the technology or materials we have today, their work was based solely on what they had which was not much. Printing on the backs of wallpapers to make a book.
Kashmir Malevich, outlines the theme of suprematism, which rejects the premise of utilitarian functions.
In contrast to this, we find constructivism: the only meaningful art has function, and things that have function are art. They renounce art for art’s sake. Art should serve the new communist society.
Known artists from this movement are:
Vladimir Tatlin
Rodchenko
Lissitzky : painter, teacher, architect, typographer, photographer etc. He will influence constructivism. He developed the idea of the proun. He is trying to look for the intersection between painting and architecture. Dorian asks, What is more utopian than building?
He is not to be confused with Kandinski, though at first sight they may seem quite similar because of their highly geometry works.
He influences the Bauhaus,
What he’s looking at is unity and projecting a world of objects.
categorized by aesthetic, asymmetrical balance, sans serif typography- begin to move towards modernism.
He is also known for his political propaganda. He worked for the Nazis.
UND DU? the use of an intimidating image to recruit people. His reputation was ruined because of his association with the NAZIS
Mcnight kauffer:
1980 piece the ideas of cubism applied to communication design, and brings into play the notion of negative space.
One of the most recognized poster designers of the time was A.M. Cassander.
As time goes by, structure becomes more and more important (metaphor for the urgent need for sustainability?) People are craving reason, and logic, universal truths.
Artists of the time are looking at science and what the role of art is in society.
etoile du nord pullman = for a train that travels from paris to amsterdam. star: destination, train tracks, the tracks are a reclining person,
Dubonnet campaign: “dubo” coming from the word doubt. It is known as one of the most famous campaigns, If you can manage to get the type to work as art and communication. You’ve got it. Paul Rand reworks on the Du bonnet campaign.
Later on comes the Russian Avant Garde :
The first wave (cubo futurism) taking the ideas of futurism and Cubism, and combining them.
Second wave (supremitism)
Third wave(constructivism)
Cubo Futurism: movement and how to express it, taking advantage of scrap materials in their work.
At the time in russia, people didn't have the technology or materials we have today, their work was based solely on what they had which was not much. Printing on the backs of wallpapers to make a book.
Kashmir Malevich, outlines the theme of suprematism, which rejects the premise of utilitarian functions.
In contrast to this, we find constructivism: the only meaningful art has function, and things that have function are art. They renounce art for art’s sake. Art should serve the new communist society.
Known artists from this movement are:
Vladimir Tatlin
Rodchenko
Lissitzky : painter, teacher, architect, typographer, photographer etc. He will influence constructivism. He developed the idea of the proun. He is trying to look for the intersection between painting and architecture. Dorian asks, What is more utopian than building?
He is not to be confused with Kandinski, though at first sight they may seem quite similar because of their highly geometry works.
He influences the Bauhaus,
What he’s looking at is unity and projecting a world of objects.
categorized by aesthetic, asymmetrical balance, sans serif typography- begin to move towards modernism.
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