Applied Art

As stated by Muthesius, one cares more for the aesthetic of an art piece than the functionality. It defies the way that we as a society view art now. We believe that today art should serve as both beautiful and utiliziable.

The picture depicts the impractical use of something that is aesthetically pleasing. It is light and airy, which makes it attractive but the seat movement is not utilitarian. 

Crafting is a tricky topic. Gropius describes well what it means to craft in Manifesto of the Staatliche Bauhaus in Weimar. However, being crafty and being a designer. Being able to effectively communicate your artistic vision into reality is important for the two of them, though. One crafts when the objective of the piece is more decorative or handmade, than utilitarian. That is not to say that the piece couldn't be used, but it is less intended for that aspect. 

The use of this object is less known. It is decorative and very beautiful, however it doesn't serve a practical use. This puts it in the category of Craft, as opposed to Decorative Art.

Le Corbusier has a more understanding and practical approach to design. He described how we can make an object appealing to human beings, and still make it functional, such as furniture. When practicality meets aesthetic, it becomes "decorative art". This is what separates Craft from the Decorative Arts. There is Craft in the Deco Arts, but overall, the idea that Deco Arts have a practical use makes it stand out. The level of skill and application put into the Deco Arts surpasses the craftsmanship, usually, of crafting projects. However, they do have some similarities that make them understandablly mistakable. 

This shows the intricate craftsmanship of an object, this case a teapot, with a practical usage. The display of this item would attract attention, however, the use of it would make it more versatile. This is Decorative Art.

Signifying Applied Art

Hermanm Muthesisus - The Significanace of Applied Art

In this passage by Hermann he talks about how appled art has been around for many years. As for artistic, cultural, and economic groupings, applied art is used for many different things and all of them yet have they're own goals. I personally see it now as a money skeem for most, each product is made so that it doesn't last long but yet is applied to make people want it making them pay fortunes to get and keep what they want.

You can tell by these two pieces of art that they are obviously one thing but altered to applied to be something else.

Walter Gropius - Manifesto of the Staatliche Bauhaus in Weimar

They had to produce a "unity" but how is it possible to do that if art cannot be taught? I feel like this is the most important part because you can't sit down and learn art, you have to practice it over and over again. This unity is important because its creating a physical bond with you work of you actually making it instead of just learning it.

You can not learn art, it's just a matter of practicing over and over again with sketches or diagrams.

Le Corbusier - Type-Needs:Type-Furniture

When Corbusier says "To search for the human scale, for human function is to define human needs." All humans, when looked at on a basic scale, are all about the same. Therefore, when making things, people base it off of what we need. It is when you have this function of what the human needs are that you are able to make it satisfying, and that is what Le Corbusier was saying decorative art was.

 These are an example of how on the human scale, we are all about the same and its then that design stuff off the basics of the human body for a lot of things.

The Shift in Applied Arts

The Significance of Applied Art, by Hermann Muthesius

In the essay "The Significance of Applied Art" by Hermann Muthesius, the author focuses on the evolution of Decorative Art around the time of The Third German Applied Art Exhibit.  This exhibit changed the focus of Decorative Art from a form build to a function build concentrating on sound workmanship.  Social and economic issues played a major role in this shift.  They focused on a true finished product.  They wanted to stay away from hiding the materials being used to build a piece.  They wanted every piece to be what it was intended to be.  They wanted one to respect the raw materials and covering it to change its appearance to suit a style, disrespected the raw material (pg. 82).  

Personally, especially in the area of commercial furniture production, I think there has been a serious decline in the quality of the construction.  Whether it's caused by free trade agreements, or simply that we have become such a throw away society and we are expected to redecorate every few years, it's difficult to buy furniture that will last.  Even the more respected brands have fallen victim to this mentality, be it the fabric that's used or the structure of the furniture, it only has to last a few years and is not expected to last any longer, even if the consumer does.  Quality doesn't get better when the economy faulters and one can't afford to replace furniture.  

The following is a chair from Merklen Brothers.  

Manifesto of the Staatliche Bauhaus in Weimar, by Walter Gropius

According to "Manifesto of the Staatliche Bauhaus in Weimar", by Walter Gropius, there should be no class distinciton between the artist and the craftsman (pg. 83), which indicates to me that the artist and the craftsman should be equally skilled in their respective fields and should be viewed socially as equals.  There should be an appreciation for the craft of painting, sculpture and architecture as a skill and developed to an individuals full potential.  It's though this unity that true workmanship can be achieved.

I find his opinion interesting and true.  The craft people that come to my mind are finishing carpenters.  I think this skill and occupation is undervalued in this era of Home Depot shopping.  I had a built-in designed in my livingroom and the carpenters commented that no one takes the time, spends the money and does this to their homes anymore.  I love the addition and can't imagine how it would have looked the same if installed through a different resource.

I thought this was a really nice example of craftsman meets artist.  I love stone work and use it a lot around my house.  I thought the color pallet was interesting as well

Type-Needs: Type-Furniture, by Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier's essay, "Type-Needs: Type Furniture", centers around the human need based product development. For example (pg. 87), we developed items like standardized file cabinets, file drawers and files because of the invention of the typewriter.  We had a need to fit paper into a typewriter, so the size of the paper had to become standardized, thereby changing the whole furnishing industry surrounding storage and organization of thae uses of that paper.  That also standardized tables we had to owork at and chairs we had to sit in.  The examples of this standardization are truely endless when thought of in our era.  

Below is an example of an ergonomic chair, invented as a result of human need to be more comfortable in our work environments.

I find the topics of these essay, which obviously relate well to eachother, interesting, because of the frustration I feel as a consumer today.  I feel like the issues these articles address should be revisited by many of present day manufacturers.  

1. Frank, Isabelle (editor) (2000). The theory of decorative art: An anthology of European and American writings 1750 – 1940. New York: Yale University Press. 

Significance of Applied Art

The Significance of Applied Art :by Hermann Muthesius

Muthesius gives us a background on applied art. He says that people of the past cared more about the appearance of the object rather than the function of the object. Today, people have changed their thoughts on this. People now are focusing on the function, with still appearance in mind, just not coming first.

In the photo above, the object shows function, yet with appearance in mind.

   Manifesto of the Staatliche Bauhaus in Weimar :by Walter Gropius

Crafting is also important when it comes to design. A great designer would put time and effort in creating the object and knowing how make the design in reality. Although, a designer and a craftsman are not the same thing.

 In the image above, i believe the object combined crafts and fine arts into one.

Type-Needs: Type-Furniture  by:Le Corbusier

Corbusier explains that people, as in us, make objects based on human needs. We also make it appealing to us as well as the function of the object. This term is called "decorative art."

The image above shows a room with objects that are appealing.  

Frank, Isabelle (editor) (2000). The theory of decorative art: An anthology of European and American writings 1750 – 1940. New York: Yale University Press.

Function

HERMAN MUTHESIUS The Significance of Applied Art

Muthesius starts by speaking about what people have done in the past when it comes to applied art.  He mentions that people were too focused on the appearance of the objects they were designing, trying to give it a certain stylistic look that they forgot about practicality.  They often did replicas of objects done in past artistic movements, and, in turn, forgot about the present and its specific needs.  Now, people have been completely changing their approach to applied art, and it is an incredible change that brings great significance to applied art.  It is not that people have completely new and original ideas when approaching the design.  They just have a new thought process when designing the applied art.  Instead of looking to the past and focusing on the appearance, they look at function, material and construction, the three fundamental principles of design.  In doing this, they are not completely disregarding the appearance of the object, but the appearance is not what comes first.  Modern applied art has a much more effective and efficient approach.

Eames chair (functional, but also beautiful)

WALTER GROPIUS Manifesto of the Staatliche Bauhaus in Weimar

I believe that we should return to the crafts as well.  If you are to be a good designer, you have to be able to make what you design.  Otherwise, you probably will not know enough about the materials and making of the object to know whether or not the product you put is successful.  

IDS 271 boxes (We made our own boxes for monitor storage, which definitely makes us appreciate them.)

LE CORBUSIER Type-Needs: Type-Furniture

When Le Corbusier speaks of the human function defining human needs, he is making a relatively obvious statement, but it is one that we need to be constantly reminded of.  Designers often get too caught up in appearances and forget what they are designing.  What is the purpose of the object?  What good is a decorative chair that is difficult to sit in?

Le Corbusier defines decorative art as a functional extension of ourselves.  The beauty of these tools comes from their ease of use and functionality.  

Clothes are an example of functional, decorative items.