Art, Architecture and Design are in a very complex dance. Each informs, mutates and resolves in so many spectacular ways.
I’m always taken by architecture. To be honest, if I had to do this whole life over I would be an architect. But, harumph, I’m not. I also want a pony. And I don’t have a pony.
Mies van der Rohe designed with precision and exacting attention to detail. Pretty sure he’d be upset by most of his buildings being halved and quartered for shopping gallerias, night spots. So be it. There seems to be a new confluence:
Modern re-Meets Modern
Something happened in the 50s. Well, a lot of things, actually. The war machine that allowed the Allies to claim victory was massive and without wars, kinda needed a purpose.Â
We started to dig art and design and it was made available to everyone. Plastics became mainstream and viable. Mediums were explored. Artists made sculpture, fine art and occasionally sketched while drinking. Possibly (likely) smoking a cigarette. O, remember when we could smoke? All the cool kids smoked. *sigh*
I swear, if I hear anyone even think “Mid-century modern” I will jump right through your screen and slap you.
No, a Knoll filing cabinet is not “mid-century,” it’s a fucking filing cabinet. Have fun in Palm Springs! Freaks.
Turns out, Le Corbusier was kind of a dick:
Some of his urban planning ideas have been criticized for their indifference to pre-existing cultural sites, societal expression and equality, and his alleged ties with fascism, antisemitism, and eugenics,[8] and the dictator Benito Mussolini have resulted in some continuing contention.[9][10][11][12]
He was also brilliant at designing at a human level. There was concern that modern architecture which used vast, cold expanses of cement would create beautiful, yet inhuman and brutal environments. Indeed, he is often cited as a pro-Brutalist.
This facet of Le Corbusier is little known, however, he made around 30 tapestries that speak of his creative processes and concerns outside of architecture. As a result, Almine Rech Gallery in New York will present an exhibition from September 14th to October 22nd, 2022, where historical tapestries from Le Corbusier’s entire career will be collected. Many of the works –dating from 1936– are presented to the public for the first time, being drawn directly from the Le Corbusier Foundation or from private and public collections (such as MoMA).
— Source
Design is so much more than pretty things. It is a language we instinctively understand. It allows us to make sense of never-ending stimuli, data and non-verbal information – which, by the way, is most information. That’s more important than ever in human history.
If you can’t work out how much data is created every day, you should better learn about and get used to zettabytes and yottabytes.
cgk.ink has a deep understanding of cultural icons and design. And we use this to communicate unique perspectives. It’s our intent to start a conversation about what matters right now. And we’d love to hear your thoughts (post below).