History of Graphic Design / Wk 4: Art Nouveau

It was really interesting to learn about the origins of the Art Nouveau period, right from the beginning when Japanese wood block prints were used to wrap items for shipment to Europe, which later on greatly influenced the birth of Art Nouveau. Its existence came about so organically and unintentionally, and shaped the iconic whiplash style. Art Nouveau artists were inspired by natural forms like curved lines, flowers and plants. This attributed to the flowy and swishy elements in art and architecture, an evident move away from academic art in the late 1800s.

The entrance gates to the Paris metro were designed by Hector Guimard, a French architect who practiced Art Nouveau. I love that the gates are still being used today, and if I ever find myself in Paris, I’ll definitely have to see it in person.

 

 

History of Graphic Design / Wk 3: William Morris reflection

I was really inspired by William Morris’ and how he took so much pride in his craft, taking the time to do things by hand in the age of the industrial revolution, where things could have been easily done by machines. He turned his back on mass production, and started a revolution of his own — the arts and crafts movement. As a design student, I think it’s important to share the same passion for craftsmanship and the determination to take time to perfect something. Art is only beautiful if you poured your heart and soul into creating it.

It’s interesting how he believed that everyone should have only beautiful things in their homes, but at the same time, the artworks he made weren’t accessible to everyone because of how expensive they were. Nevertheless, his works stood the test of time and are still being sold today, which is great because the world gets to see the level of perfection he was admired for all those years ago.