Today's lecture focused on Bauhaus and modernism, Anna ran through the history of Bauhaus and how this was a huge part in the world of contemporary and modern day art. Modernism rejected historical styles as a source of architectural form, and was an adaption of the machine aesthetic. It was characterised by a shift away from traditional forms of expression in the arts and literature, including creative forms of expression which signalled a deliberate departure of previously existing styles in the late 19th and 20th century. It was a rejection of ornament which I really feel like modernism expresses, simplistic and minimal designs. Very cutting edge, clean and crisp.
The Bauhaus was an experimental creative school that opened in 1919 in Weimar, Germany, that then relocated to Dessau in 1925, quickly closing in Berlin, 1933. It did however reopen in Chicago in 1937; the majority of the original tutors (that were also students) followed to its new location. The school combined art, craft and technology, reaching a common goal of purer designs without decoration that was unnecessary. Clean, modern, and practical the Bauhaus became the best functional, art and design school. I feel that in modern day culture, design that is practical, functional and clean is favoured over busier more ornamental styles. As a graphic designer, this term helps to clearly get the message across to a certain audience, whether it is children, or adults (without confusion or misdirection).
Bauhaus followed the rule 'Functionality over design' which meant they prioritised the purpose of the design rather than the artistic, aesthetic form.
'Utility comes first.'
'Never sacrifice the message for design.'
'Artistic flare and frills come second to function.'
'Clean, Powerful Typography Matters'
Quotes from: http://www.scribblelive.com/blog/2013/01/16/six-lessons-from-the-bauhaus-masters-of-the-persuasive-graphic/
Image from: http://www.cramertolboe.com/blog-1/2015/9/14/bauhaus-curriculum-wheel
Below are a few different artists and designers which are associated with Bauhaus:
- Josef Albers
- Marianne Brant
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Paul Klee
- Felix Keller
- Marcel Breuer
- Walter Gropius
A documentary was shown in the lecture, exploring Bauhaus' revolution and how much it influences us today. I believe the designs take an easily recognisable form and this can be shown throughout art and design over the last 100 years. Primary colours and simple shapes are used for a very slick look in modern day art, I personally love a contemporary design that is minimalistic but extremely effective and well thought about. I found an example of the Bauhaus work are these chairs below. Bauhaus furniture Marcel Breuer Chair – The Wasilly Chair. Very functional, less design work. Minimal with no decoration.
I think the typography in a piece of Bauhaus work is very architectural, 'like a chair in a room'. They function on their own and 'as artistic tools in the space'. Below is a poster I gathered whilst researching the Bauhaus movement, showing sharp edges, a creative use of typography, and I can also see that the message in the poster has not been detracted by the design.
http://www.bauhaus.de/en/ausstellungen/sammlung/209_gebrauchsgrafik/398
