Art Deco

Art Deco

Shaiful Amin

University Central Lancashire

Introduction

Art deco is considered as a mixed style of design and its beautification which is patently an influential visual arts design which initially appeared in France during the 1920s. It flourished internationally during the 30s and 40s. Art Deco form has been evolved in several ways and dissimilar kinds of structures such as social, cultural, political and the economic that assist to form and develop into an Art movement. Art Deco is at times measured as a type of Modernism movement that has been expanding throughout internationally.

Art deco is an eclectic style that unites traditional craft motifs with Machine Age imagery and materials. The main feature of the Art deco is that it is characterized by rich colours, bold numerical shapes and plentiful ornamentation. Art Deco is primarily a blending of artistic and design with multitude shape. During its glory days, Art Deco stood for luxury, glamour, exuberance, and faith in social and technological growth. Art Deco is characterized by application of materials such as aluminium, stainless steel, lacquer and inlaid wood (Bayer, 1992).

The structure of Art Deco is centered on mathematical geometric shapes. It was extensively measured to be an assorted form of modernism which is influenced by various sources. It is far and wide assumed that art deco was a great deal influenced by pre-modern art from, constructivism, cubism, functionalism, modernism, and futurism around the world. The Art Deco style instilled the everyday world with graceful style of its natural (Benton, Benton & Wood, 2003).

Art Deco uses a number of influential forms making it have great impact on a number of designs. To start with, it gives special on geometric forms including sunburst motifs, chevrons, zigzags, trapezoids, rectangles, polygons, and spheres. In the geometric forms, elements are arranged in symmetrical patterns. The most frequently used materials in these forms are plastics, chrome Bakelite, stainless steel and aluminium. Although not common, lacquer, inlays and stained glass are also used. Colour is also emphasized upon as they are made vivid and of high contrast (Bayer, 1992).  

Being a globally-popular style, Art Deco has affected several design areas. The first ones to use Art Deco design were consumer products including cookware, furniture, and automobiles as well as in China clocks, jewellery, and textiles. It also influenced electronics including jukeboxes, telephones and radios. Because of its popularity and being considered an attractive design, it also influenced cinema, graphic arts, fashion, industrial design, interior design, and architecture (Hillier, 1968).

In the 1930s, Art Deco was widely used in public work projects, ocean liners (such as Normandy, Queen Mary, and Ile de France), amusement parks, movie palaces, and railway stations. Use of Art Deco in all these areas was considered a great move because it not only made them look entertaining but also luxurious (Hillier, 1971). Nevertheless, the influence of Art Deco was considered inappropriately luxurious and gaudy during the World War II. During this era, there were austerities imposed that led to its decline in popularity. However, in the 1960s, its rebirth began and more people/ designers began to be interested once more in the designs. Deco is used to date. It continuously influences designers in areas of toiletries, jewellery, and fashion (Benton, Benton & Wood, 2003).

The main areas influenced by Art Deco were jewellery, ceramics and furniture and fittings. Furniture materials’ quality was adapted from France. Many people regarded Art Deco to be very important in the furniture produced leading to the popularity of French designers all over the world. Among the wealthy Americans travelling to Paris during the era of Art Deco, few were interested in the designs because of their entertainment, fashion and style. This influenced the Americans to start using Art Deco designs just as the French do. The style adopted by the Americans from the French was formal style with Ivory and Macassar Ebony (Hillier, 1968).

Since then, Americans started using Art Deco with the materials used by the French designers. This further influenced the British designers, who followed the new design of Americans. It is notable that the furniture from British, America and French designers had relatively different styles. However, all represent Art Deco Insignia (Wood, 2000).

            Lightning also uses Art Deco design. It employs interior lightening design. Most of the designed lights are fitted as table or desk lamps. The designs were placed in places where they could easily be recognized. These included in shopping malls, libraries and hotels. These lighting lamps were the designs of Paul Kiss and Edgar Brandt. Even though these lamps are sellable to date, they are often very expensive and thus unaffordable to many (Benton, Benton & Wood, 2003).

            Most of the furniture used in America if unsigned, affordable and lightly based in French Deco. They use a different form of design from that used by French designers. Because of its originality, it is quite expensive and only affordable to few people (Hillier, 1971).

            Ceramics using Art Deco was noticeable in pots and jars. Even though each designs from different countries have different patterns and textiles, each resembles designs used in Art Deco style. The most recognizable Art Deco design in ceramics is in European ceramics. The modern of these ceramics falls in two wide sections namely commercial ware and studio pottery. Studio pottery includes the works of Wiener Werstatte such as Viennese workshops, which is shown as avantegarde and hand built. These versions have been copied though of a lower quality by Wiener Keramik of Austria and W.M.F of Germany. The commercial ware is made of lower design and quality and thus inexpensive. Egyptian influence was discovered in 1922 by King Tutankhamun’s tomb with Western Art Deco taste. The design has widely been used in ceramics and sculptures in the country (Hillier, 1968).  

            Posters and graphics need to be attractive and entertaining. This has been achieved through the use of Art Deco style. These posters are mostly promotional and thus will attract the audience if they are entertaining and appealing to the eyes. A good example of the posters using Art Deco design is ‘Chicago World’s Fair’ designed by Weimer Pursell. British posters uses Art Deco design as noted by a small group of artists (Benton, Benton & Wood, 2003).          

Conclusion

The unique style of Art Deco has been mirrored in many similar movements. Art Deco could influence later on styles such as Memphis and the Pop art movement. It also had an effect on post modern architecture and styles. Art Deco has also had a noticeable influence on modern design.

Bibliography

Bayer, P. (1992). Art Deco Architecture: design, decoration and detail from the twenties and thirties. London: Thames & Hudson.

Benton, C., Benton, T. & Wood, G. (2003). Art Deco: 1910–1939. New York: Bulfinch.

Hillier, B. (1968). Art Deco of the 20s and 30s. London: Studio Vista.

Hillier, B. (1971). The World of Art Deco: An Exhibition Organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, June- September 1971. Minneapolis: E.P. Dutton.

Wood, G. (2000). Essential Art Deco. London: VA&A Publications.