The Art Deco design movement (1925 to 1939) an elegant, functional and modern design style celebrated a time of innovation, decoration and decadence. Deco design is characterized by the use of mathematical geometric shapes, symmetry and repetition, with the use of machine technology including materials such as glass, aluminium and stainless steel. Deco influences are found in architecture, interior design, industrial design, graphic art, painting, film and fashion. Add some deco dynamism to your world.
The deco style took off in a big way after the austere years of the first world war, the roaring 20’s were a time of social artistic and cultural excitement. The look was deco, the sound was jazz and the attitude bold, the fashion of the flapper.
The look:
La Société des artistes décorateurs was a collective of French artists who heavily influenced the principles of art deco. They organized an event in 1925 to demonstrate French decorative art’s leading position in this worldwide evolution, Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes.
The architecture, represented the progress and optimism of the machine age, still the most stylish form of skyscrapers. Decopix have some awesome art deco architecture. The Chrysler Building built in 1929-30 in New York, was designed by deco architect Wiliam Van Alen.
Deco epitomized the opulence and confidence of the era in all facets of industrial design, including transport, communication, housing and domestic goods. Check out decodame for authentic deco things.
The fashion was ‘tres moderne’, a wonderful example of the visual inspiration of the time is russian born french painter and designer Erte‘ and his deco design Top Hats. Or Fritz Lang’s beautiful futuristic silent film Metropolis from 1927.
For anybody wanting to see more deco in Melbourne, the National Gallery of Victoria will be presenting an Art Deco 1910-1939 exhibition from June 28th - October 5th 2008.
The sound:
In the roaring twenties, speakeasies with live jazz and illicit alcohol (due to a prohibition from 1920-1933) were the place to be. Jazz evolved from this smaller lively scene to larger scale entertainment, from the afro-american influence, King Oliver’s Jazz Orchestra to the biq white bands of the time, Glenn Miller’s Orchestra, 1927 resident band at New York’s Cotton Club. In the Mood summed up the feeling of the times and evolved to big band swing.
The King of Jazz a film from 1930 starring Paul Whiteman and his orchestra has some spectacular jazz performances.
The attitude:
The flapper stood for all things decadent. The fashions were deco inspired for a more active ‘moderne girl ‘ who drank, smoked and danced all night. The literature, The Great Gatsby written by F.Scott Fitzgerald superbly portrays the opulence and decadence of the times. The 1974 film The Great Gatsby, starring Robert Redford is a sight to behold for the deco fan.
The attitude of the times is beautifully captured by performer Josephine Baker who has continued to inspire us today. A beautiful and intelligent woman. A talented singer and dancer. She is the Stylopath Art Deco Poster Girl.
Josephine Baker
The deco era came to a close by the end of the 1930’s. Mass production had resulted in a proliferation of all things deco. The excitement, exuberance and decadence of deco became passe and made way for more gloomy times with the onset of the second world war.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 0 comments… add one now }