 |
|
 |
|
The
International Style
|
Week
13 - The International Style Whereas the more decorative forms of Art Nouveau evolved into Art Deco, the cleaner, more "form-should-follow-function" streams developed into the various streams of European Modernism, which in turn became the International Style. Bauhaus in particular led directly into the International Style, not just stylistically but also physically - most of the designers from the Bauhaus moved to the US and continued to develop in an increasingly generic, minimalist way. The first exhibition in which the term was first used was in 1932 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. "The International Style" Exhibition consisted of photographs of buildings from around the world - white, minimalist structures with flat rooves, large sheet-glass windows, clean lines and shining, functional chrome fittings. International Style designers shunned unnecessary embellishment. If it didn't serve a purpose, it was gone. This 'machine aesthetic', although looking superficially like some aspects of Art Deco, was philosophically at the other end of the spectrum. While Deco revelled in aecleticism, the latest fads and fashions, the International Style was seen as pure - in pursuit of perfect forms.
|
|
|
Remember this chair from the Bauhaus? |
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) After
migrating to the US, Bauhaus Director Mies van der Rohe is said to
be the founder of the International Style. Not every client was happy with Mies van der Rohe's minimalist buildings though. Perhaps it was the fury of a woman scorned, or perhaps anti-communist, xenophobic McCarthyism - being considered Un-American was a dangerous accusation in the US at this time. Whatever the cause, it's an odd story... http://architecture.about.com/library/weekly/aa052900a.htm |
  |
 
|
Le Corbusier (Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, 1887-1865) Figurehead of European Modernism, Le Corbusier is also seen as one of the founding fathers of the International Style. Le Corbusier was a Swiss Architect and Town Planner who lived in Paris and wrote various books that became manuals of the International Style. Although
he's most commonly associated with designs that can look somewhat generic
- flat, white boxes, he also designed some quite unique buildings such
as the Notre Dame Du Haut. |
|
|
Charles Eames (1907-1978) & Ray Kaiser Eames (1912-1988) Husband and Wife design super-duo, they defined a style now called "Eames Era". From
buildings to chairs to lamps to exhibitions - the range of designs by
the Eames is diverse and prolific.
They even became film-makers in their later years. |
  |
 |
Kem (K.E.M.) Weber (1889-1963) One
of the first 'Moderne' designers in the US, German-born Weber followed
the principles of the Machine Aesthetic. Born Karl Emanuel Martin Weber,
he shortened his name to Kem (perhaps to sound less German) when he
moved to the US during WWI. |
 |
|
|
Eileen Gray (1879-1976) An
enigmatic and original designer and architect whose wide variety of
styles throughout her career varied from ornate lacquered pieces in
her early work to stark, minimalist furniture that epitomised the International
Style. |
 |
|
|
Scandanavian Design The Scandanavian countries of Sweden, Finland, Denmark Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) Finnish
architect and designer. His early work was influenced by neoclassism,
but then he later adapted the symbolism and functionalism of European
Modernism. Some of his chair designs have become classics, and are still
produced today. Bruno Mathsson Designer
of the famous "Grasshopper Chair" Ingvar Kamprad (1926-living) International
Style has taken over the whole world. Ingvar Kamprad opened his company
Ikea in Sweden in 1958 and now has over 150 branches (in most
western industrialised countries) and employs over 40,000 people. According
to one recent source, he's now the richest person in the world, overtaking
Bill Gates after the slide of the US Dollar in 2004. eg: |
   |
|
Some
recommended online resources: Contextual factors to consider:
Some key technical innovations:
Meanwhile, in Fine Art:
|
all
graphics, text and design: copyright retrokat.com 2001-4
Note: If you personally hold copyright to any images or other content herein
and wish it to be removed or credited, please email me on
kat@retrokat.com and I'm more than happy to do so.