History of Design

Constructivism

It was a Radical Russian art and architecture movement which started before the Bolshevik Revolution (1917-1935) which origins in Russia. Their aim was to contribute towards the construction of the new communist state. There was a rejection in the idea of "art for art's sake".

Vladmir Tatlin

He was born in Moscow, Russia on the 28th of December in 1885. He studied in an Institution which specialized in painting, architecture and sculpting. He was both an artist and an architect. 

Tatlin's Tower

It is all made of wood, it reflects his harmony and liberation and it is also his most famous creation. I like the fact that it creates such an original and spiral shape. It looks as if there is some kind of stairs.

An Animated Video Of The Building Of Tatlin's Tower

Juan Antonio Avalos's Russian Constructivism in Fashion.

Its colours and shapes are really interesting. The colour red was really used in Constructivism. In his collection, he also made use of tracksuits which he converted them into military uniforms.

Varvara Stepanova

She was born in Lithuania in 1894. She refers to herself as a constructivist. She was a designer, painter and also a photographer.

Varvara's Works

Bibliography

http://www.kmtspace.com/tatlin-arch.htm

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/A-centuryold-monument-highlights-Abu-Dhabis-ambition/25105

http://totallyhistory.com/vladimir-tatlin/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioen8sfARLc

http://www.literaryreview.co.uk/merridale_07_09.html

http://www.newsfashionweek.com/juan-antonio-valos-3/

http://historicallymodernquilts.blogspot.com/2013/07/modern-print-monday-varvara-stepanova.html

Notes taken during the lesson

http://www.designishistory.com/

History Of Art

Neo And Post Impressionism 

They cover the period around 1880 and 1910. They are developed out of Impressionism. The artists of Post Impressionism were Gauguin, Cezanne and Van Gogh. The artists of Neo Impressionism were Seurat and Signac. These artists had the expression of feelings and ideas. Their work revealed spiritual and personal direction. 

Post Impressionism

Paul Gauguin

Self Portrait- Les Miserable

Landscape with Three Trees

It shows a wonderful landscape with the use of contrastable colours. Although there are more than three trees, the artist focuses on only three of them. He does this by enlarging the three trees so that they are the main focus of the landscape.

Paul Cezanne

Self Portrait 

Jas De Buffan, The Pool

It's really interesting how he interprets the reflection of the flowers and the scenery into the pool. The bright colours used are creating an amazing effect and composition.

Vincent Van Gogh

Self Portrait

The Cafe La Nuit 

The floor is created with brush strokes which happens to create such an interesting texture and pattern. There's also a sense of contrast due to the use of orange with blue. The title really reflects the work!

Neo Impressionism 

Jeff Seurat 

Self Portrait

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

This work is creating a calm effect due to the soft colours and textures shown. It's a typical scene from everyday life.

Paul Signac 

Self Portrait

The Pink Cloud Antibes

This was done with a technique which is known as pointillism. There is use of primary colours which are really creating an amazing contrast and texture. The texture of the cloud looks really detailed due to the dark blue colour which is applied on the outline of the cloud.

Bibliography 

Notes taken during the lesson

http://www.mystudios.com/art/post/gauguin/gauguin-self-portrait-miserables-1888.html

Self Portrait: Les Miserables
1888
oil on canvas 45x55cm
Gauguin Museum

http://www.allpaintings.org/v/Post-Impressionism/Paul+Gauguin/Paul+Gauguin+-+Landscape+with+Three+Trees.jpg.html

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/cezanne/portraits/self/self/

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/cezanne/land/

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/vincent-van-gogh-paintings-from-paris4.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2010752/French-art-breaks-Ambling-footsteps-van-Gogh-Provence.html

Atmospheric: The Cafe la Nuit painted by van Gogh during his stay in Arles in 1888

http://www.jeffzischke.com/blog/?p=687

http://www.artble.com/artists/georges_seurat/paintings/a_sunday_afternoon_on_the_island_of_la_grande_jatte

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Seurat_Paul_Signac.jpg

http://artmight.com/Artists/Paul-Signac/the-pink-cloud-antibes-53942p.html

History Of Design

Neo Gothic In Design

Oxford University

It dates from the 12th Century. It has a use of different geometrical shapes which makes it look really interesting as a building. It has amazing forms and textures.

Slipper Chair by John H. Belter

This chair is really rich in texture which is done with the technique called carving. It has a fantastic detailed pattern. It has a sense of contrast both in material and both in colour due to the use of brown with blue and wood with silk.

Dining room by Alexander J. Davis

Although it is made up of different patterned furniture and decorations, it happens to create an amazing composition. It is really rich in patterns and textures. 

Photography by Thom Kerr

This photograph is a perfect example of neo gothic due to its black and white colours, building and fashion used.

Topshop Spring/Summer Collection 2013

 by JW Anderson

The hair, clothes, patterns and shoes are all in black and white and so that is what makes them neo gothic. The design of the whole outfit is similar to the repetitive shapes of Alexander J. Davis's dining room's wall pattern.

Bibliography

http://paradiseintheworld.com/oxford-england/

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/51.79.9

Slipper chair, 1850-60-John H.Belter (american, born Germany, 1804-1853; firm active New York City, 1844-66

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/35326/Social-and-economic-considerations-in-interior-design

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-magazine-issue-17

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/galleries/TMG9847265/J.W.-Anderson-for-Topshop-springsummer-2013-collection.html

History Of Art

Impressionism

It began in the late 1860's with a group of friends named Monet, Pissarro, Sisley and Degas in France. They first exhibited in 1874. Impressionism shows an interesting effects of light in art. The artists painted en plain-air. Weather conditions and changes in light were one of their interests. Throughout their work, they all happen to make use of visible strokes and bright colours.

Claude Oscar Monet

Water Lily Pond Symphony In Rose

I like the use of colours, shapes and textures. It shows an interesting composition. I like how the bridge is being interpreted with the pond, roses and water lilies.

Camille Pissarro

Self Portait 1

Snow Effect At Ergany, 1894

This work is a perfect meaning of the word Impressionism due to its bright colours and changes in light. There's also a use of contrast between the light colours of the trees and the grass.

Alfred Sisley

Portrait of Alfred Sisley

Regattas at Moseley 

The main focus of this work goes directly to the flags. Its different colour schemes makes it really interesting.

Edgar Degas

Self Portrait

Ballet Dancers In The Wings

I really like the composition of this work as it has a use of different blues which makes it really interesting. I like the fact that this work is showing movement and emotion.

Bibliography

Notes taken during the lesson

http://arthistory.about.com/od/impressionism/a/impressionism_10one.htm

http://www.claudemonetgallery.org/Self-Portrait-With-A-Beret.html

http://www.claudemonetgallery.org/Water-Lily-Pond--Symphony-In-Rose.html

http://www.camille-pissarro.org/Self-Portrait-I.html

http://www.camille-pissarro.org/Snow-Effect-at-Eragny,-1894.html
http://communicationvisually.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/self-portraits/

http://www.paintingmania.com/regattas-moseley-148_19420.html

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edgar_Degas_-_Ballet_Dancers_in_the_Wings.jpg

2nd Exhibition Visit

St. James Cavalier Exhibition

Xebgha Nies

This exhibition featured works by various artists. I chose the works by Marisa Attard as I've been influenced by her use of mixed media, contrast in colours and her creative ideas.

"Pastizz": I really like the fact that she used a real small piece of a typical Maltese paper bag. The colours used are creating such an amazing composition and contrast. It's showing a typical Maltese man sitting in a bar having a "pastizz" and a drink.

"Bar Code": I like how the work is compared with the title. The table of the bar has that texture and pattern of a "bar code" while the men are having a drink near the bar. This work has a variety of patterns and textures which are really contrastable.

"Blow!": This work really reflects the title. It is showing a couple which are walking while in the background there are people which are being blown away by the wind. The use of orange and red really brings out the couple in the work.

 "Tombola": I like the tones and shades of greens with oranges. It shows typical traditional Maltese women playing the game which is known as "tombola". 

"A Perfect Balance": It has an interesting composition and contrast in both colour and size. It seems that someone is holding the large women with some kind of stick or rope, and the women herself is holding a tiny man. This picture has a sense of repetition in a way.

Bibliography

Date of visit: 5-3-14

Names of practitioners: Marisa Attard

Title of Exhibition: Xebgha Nies

Place: St. James Cavalier, Valletta

1st Exhibition Visit

St. James Cavalier Exhibition

Eccentricks

I really like these works because they are modern and original. It's really interesting that they have a different composition and interpretation. They also have a sense of a typical Maltese culture and tradition, but their composition is interpreted in an original and modern way. For example: the red telephone box's shape is changed completely to create an original and abstract effect, the chair has two wheels were you can put your arms, the toilet's design and pattern is that similar to the Maltese luzzu, the clocks happen to imitate the old vintage grand father clock and the bike which looks like the chair. These works influenced me to keep working and focusing on abstract and original designs which has a touch of something which is coming from the past and which is old or that of a typical tradition.

Bibliography

Date of visit: 5-3-14

Names of practitioners: Emanuel Bonnici

Title of Exhibition: Eccentricks

Place: St. James Cavalier, Valletta 

History Of Design

The Arts And Crafts Movement

Before spreading across America and Europe, The Arts And Crafts Movement first started in Britain around 1880. The main founders of The Arts And Crafts Movement were John Ruskin and William Morris (1860's-1910). There were numerous characteristics that described The Arts And Crafts Movement clearly, such as: more geometric and abstract, rejection of industrialization, hand-made, simplicity of form, traditional crafts, rejection of industrialization and plain linear shapes which were inspired by plants and nature.

John Ruskin

John Ruskin which was born on the 8th of February in 1819, was an Architect, a critic and a writer which wrote the book named 'The Stones of Venice'. In this book, he wrote an essay titled 'The Nature Of Gothic', where he praises the medieval architecture and the Gothic. 

William Morris

He was inspired by natural colours and motifs, figuration, medieval art and high patterns. His works were mainly made with textiles.

Valentino's Fall 2013 tapestry cotton guipure dress, happens to have the design similar to that of  William Morris.  

Bibliography

Notes taken during the lesson

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-arts-and-crafts-movement/

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jruskin.htm

http://homedesign.marthastewart.com/tag/arts-biennale

http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/graphic_designers/william_morris.html

http://www.voysey.gotik-romanik.de/Morris,%20Designs,%20on%20Flickr,%20Thumbnails/'Snakeshead'%20textile%20design%20by%20William%20Morris,%20produced%20by%20Morris%20&Co%20in%201876..html

http://www.voysey.gotik-romanik.de/Morris,%20Designs,%20on%20Flickr,%20Thumbnails/'Snakeshead'%20textile%20design%20by%20William%20Morris,%20produced%20by%20Morris%20&%20Co%20in%201876.%20(2).html

http://www.voysey.gotik-romanik.de/Morris,%20Designs,%20on%20Flickr,%20Thumbnails/'Strawberry%20thief'%20textile%20design%20by%20William%20Morris,%20produced%20by%20Morris%20&%20Co%20in%201883.%20(2).html

http://maydele.blogspot.com/2013/11/shop-runway-valentino-fall-winter-201314.html

http://www.socialregister.co.uk/william-morris/