Postmodernism and Design
Postmodernism is a movement of arts in the late 20th Century that was developed as a departure from modernism. It is viewed as a reaction against the principles of modernism and is associated with scepticism, irony and philosophical critiques of the concepts of global truths and realism.
Many artists would accuse the movement of being financially directed. Thus, such artists would not accomplice themselves with Postmodernism as it is deemed as visually deceitful with its commercial goals and principles. The movement embraces many different approaches to design, with artists starting the movement with pop art in the 1960s, then later creating designs which reflect conceptual art, neo — expressionism and feminist art. To the left is an example of postmodernism pop art, by Andy Warhol, 1962.
Postmodernism architecture began as a reaction to the anticipated blandness and failed idealism of the Modern movement.
Modern architecture which was established by Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier, was directed on the quest of an ideal perfection which would project an attempt of harmony of form. Many critics of Modernism stated that the attributes of perfection were subjective, highlighting an error in the time placement of modern thought.
Architecture in the Postmodern movement such as the designs of Michael Graves and Robert Venturi, reject the idea of a 'perfect' form, and instead draws from all methods, materials, forms and colours available to architects.
