Post modernism

Post modernism

Post modernism is the term that was used to describe the stylistic developments that emerged in response to the rationalism of modern design such as; Pop design, Anti-design, Radical design and all the movements that contributed to the emergence of post modernism. It is the most controversial movement that ever existed. Post modernism designers thought that modernism resulted in soulless objects, unwanted buildings and incomprehensible books.

They wanted to invent a new style which would break all the art rules that Modernists had established before. Post Modernists did not want to design simple objects, instead they wanted to create a style which would bring freedom to art and design through actions that often were funny.

Post modernists advocated individuality and mass production. Robert Venture wrote a book in 1966 saying that “Ambiguity and Contradiction Was Valid in Design” instead of rationality and logic. He argued that the lack of ornament was dehumanizing design. Architects such as Michael Graves introduced a new aesthetic by the mid 1970’s.

Portland building, 1982 by Michael Graves

Designers and architects argued that; Modern architecture was fundamentally meaningless. It lacked complexity and irony which prevailed in historical buildings. Post modernism NEW design was about the use of raw materials and using simple and formal visual language. It was very inexpensive, easily marketable, and good for mass production.  They didn’t want perfect products which looked like they were coming from a modernist era, they wanted to make objects look far from perfect. Some Post Modern designers included vibrant colours to the products to make them fun. Post Modernists were all about complexity and contradictive design which was a way of breaking every rule which Modernists made.

Martine Bedin (for Memphis), Super lamp prototype, 1981

Anti-thesis is what modernism stood for, if Modernists created good design Post Modernists tried to make chaotic design. Cheap materials were often combined with precious ones because they did not want to follow their rules and having everything the same way. The line between good and bad taste was blurred. They often made elaborate ornamentations mixed with minimalist form.

Bel Air Chair by Peter Shire

Charles Jencks, was an American critique. He advocated that products should be made of elements which are hybrid, rather than pure and messy. Vitality over obvious unity.

Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Dumfries, Scotland by Charles Jencks

Post-modernist designs looked at other historical styles for references such as art deco, de Stijl and constructivism. Other introduced eccentric elements in their designs…

The Memphis Group was a group which was funded in Milan in 1981. Their goal was to renew the Radical Design and to come up with a new creative approach to design.

The Group was made of;

-          Ettore Sottsass

-          Michele De Lucchi

-          Marco Zanini

-          Matteo Thun

-          Nathalie du Pasquier

-          George Sowden

Ettore Sottsass was an Austrian and he was designing with Olivetti and became a prominent member of the radical design movement during the 60’s and 70’s. The group’s aim was to renovate Radical Design. Memphis group added limited edition unusual products and functional design. The majority of the products featured laminated surfaces, bold patterns and bright colours.

Sottsass and the Memphis group were generating a political statement. They tried to eliminate the barrier between high class and low class. For some people this was a very strange thing but to others it offered freedom.

Ettore Sottsass have been described as a forward looking designer who also was a misbehaved artist.

Ettore Sottsass Carlton bookcase, 1981 by Memphis Italy

His bold and decorative designs which he produced in Memphis paved the way for the Post Modern designs. Sottsass called Memphis design the ‘New International Style’. He took the sophisticated and influential Milan design world into a labyrinth of visual irony. The Memphis group used lots of colours, materials and different forms. The standards of ‘good form’ design that had been considered unassailable for years lost their claim to. The idea they had in common was to eliminate the peaceful conformity of furniture design and to present concrete alternatives to the late 70s standard formal culture. The group existed until 1988.

This is an anti-war poster which has elements inspired from Post Modernism. It catches the eye with the controversial aspect in which it promotes love, delivering its message with weapons forming the ‘love’ word.

This is another example of Post Modernism design that is very controversial. I believe that the designer tried to deliver the message that those who have the most things in life don’t appreciate them.                                                                                                                                                   

References:

Failings in Architecture, Pt. 1 | DesignInquiry. 2014. Failings in Architecture, Pt. 1 | DesignInquiry. [ONLINE] Available at:http://designinquiry.net/contributions/failings-in-architecture-pt-1/. [Accessed 16 December 2014].

Vitra Miniatures Barcelona Chair - (Open Box): Floor Sample sale | Stardust. 2014. Vitra Miniatures Barcelona Chair - (Open Box): Floor Sample sale | Stardust. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.stardust.com/barcelonachair.html. [Accessed 16 December 2014].

1980s Ettore Sottsass Carlton bookcase by Memphis Italy. 2014. 1980s Ettore Sottsass Carlton bookcase by Memphis Italy. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.furniturefashion.com/1980s_ettore_sottsass_carlton_bookcase_by_memphis_italy/. [Accessed 16 December 2014].

Snail and Snake Mound, Charles Jencks, Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Dumfries, Scotland | AdorePics. 2015. Snail and Snake Mound, Charles Jencks, Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Dumfries, Scotland | AdorePics. [ONLINE] Available at: http://adorepics.com/snail-and-snake-mound-charles-jencks-garden-of-cosmic-speculation-dumfries-scotland/. [Accessed 14 January 2015].

Failings in Architecture, Pt. 1 | DesignInquiry. 2015. Failings in Architecture, Pt. 1 | DesignInquiry. [ONLINE] Available at:http://designinquiry.net/contributions/failings-in-architecture-pt-1/. [Accessed 14 January 2015].

 Bel Air Chair by Peter Shire - Chair Blog. 2015. Bel Air Chair by Peter Shire - Chair Blog. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.chairblog.eu/2012/01/15/bel-air-chair-by-peter-shire/. [Accessed 19 January 2015].

Postmodernism - Victoria and Albert Museum. 2015. Postmodernism - Victoria and Albert Museum. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/p/postmodernism/. [Accessed 19 January 2015].

Design Styles. 2015. Design Styles. [ONLINE] Available at:http://designstyless.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-anti-war-poster-uses-post-modern.html. [Accessed 19 January 2015].

Red Heads Are Bossy: November 2010. 2015. Red Heads Are Bossy: November 2010. [ONLINE] Available at:http://redheadsarebossy.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html. [Accessed 19 January 2015].