When asked to state a preferred sculptural work, few seldom answer in terms of architecture. Usually, when the term architecture is brought up, those of us who are non-architects tend to close mindedly think only about buildings. This apparent disconnect between what is conceived as architecture and what is conceived as art has long plagued the architects of this world. It is almost as if there is an accepted notion that architects can be artists, but artists simply cannot be architects which decidedly makes architecture first and foremost architecture, not art. Architect Frank Gehry is one such architect with artistic tendencies whose works have fallen victim to the preconceived ideas of architecture as art. Having a love for sculpture before entering into the world of architecture, it makes sense that Gehry would attempt to conceive works where both of his passions could shine through. Ultimately, this is what would motivate Gehry to create structures in which art and architecture could be seen as equals. In the end, however, Gehry’s goal of designing buildings where art and architecture were of the same importance would eventually become a self-contradictory objective. This can best be seen in the design of Gehry’s most renowned work, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. By attempting to combine the most interesting aspects of art and architecture into one massive building, Gehry created a structure so revolutionary that it, like himself, would forever be known not
Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “Every great architecture is-necessarily-a great poet. He must be a great original interpreter of his time, his day, his age.” In other words, movements of architecture become movements because of individuals who fabricate their own new styles. Wright states this by saying every architecture reflects his/her time period with originality.Throughout history there have been many great architectures who have worked in many different styles of architecture, such as Gothic, Byzantine, Craftsmen, and Prairie. Many architectural styles such as Romanesque and Gothic went from being a style of architecture to defining a whole period in history. For example, the Craftsmen style of architecture, which originated from the Arts and Crafts movement, went on to define that time in history. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Greene brothers both have exquisite styles of architecture with many similarities and differences in which they pioneered themselves. Wright and the Greene brothers both share similar ideals of architecture in which can be found in their different styles today.
Calder discovered what he wanted: “to paint and work in the abstract” (Calder, p.133). He created relief paintings such as White Panel (1934) and applied himself thereafter to creating sculptures based on the plastic dynamics of asymmetry. Calder discovered the leaders of avant-garde, the Abstraction-Creation group. Under their influence, Calder began to look into Boccioni and Moholy-Nagy’s theories, using sculptures in motion.
In Gehry’s house, he used big openings, unique wall surfaces and light conditions in a large room or visible framework, they all showing the postmodern style and making relationships between architecture and its origin. Gehry tried to “make a very tough sculptural
For my enrichment report, I decided to take a trip to the Los Angeles County Museum. However, I was trapped with the challenging choice of choosing only one museum for my cultural visit. Since, there are so many prodigious and amazing museums to choose from to visit in the county. But, I have heard many great feedbacks about the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from fellow classes mates, friends and family. So, I finally, had my destination set to and planned a visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Upon my visit my attention was already fixated on the unique building layout and the many arts exhibited located all around the outside of the museum building. There were several building that housed the many different art exhibits. Such as the first building I walked into, after purchasing a ticket. This building was called the “Ahmanson” building, which housed voluminous and diverse art of the European, Islamic, South and Southeast Asian Art, Art of the Ancient World, Art of the Pacific and Others. There were also many special exhibitions that was hosted at the time of my visit, such as the modern art gallery and Rifkin Gallery for German Expressionism. One of the sculpture centered in the middle of the building of the “Ahmanson” building called “Smoke” really caught my attention. As it quite an enigmatic and stunning metal sculpture that mesmerizes illusions based on your interpretation and perspective of the piece.
Brancusi's imprint on contemporary sculptural practice ranges from the dissemination of furniture-oriented sculpture and the emerging topos of architectural folly to new paradigms for public art. At the same time many postwar artists engaging in a dialogue with his legacy have read and productively misread Brancusi's work. Through the
Frank Gehry’s deconstructivism evolution is showcased by the use of non-traditional materials, conscientious detail to the building’s intended use which elevates his architecture into
The Guggenheim Museum is a form of abstract art which has no separate floor levels but uses a spiral ramp. This was his ideal of continuous space and most significant building. His principles
Leon Krier was criticised for publishing a costly monograph on Albert Speer’s architecture (1985)in which, while acknowledging the crimes of the Nazis and the man, Krier nonetheless claimed the book’s only subject and sole justification was “Classical architecture and the passion of building” (cited by Jaskot, ‘Architecture of Oppression’, 2000). Discuss this claim, the controversy and the issues (historical, philosophical and ethical and possibly others) they raise. Can architecture, Classical, Modern or otherwise, be autonomous from politics and valued independently of the circumstances of politics and history that adhere to it?
The human body is the ultimate tool for discovering the environment. Human anatomy is considered to be nature’s peak of perfection and certain features serve as inspiration for many architects. To study the relationship between the human body and architecture, one must not be limited to human body parts resemblance to architectural works but to a larger extent consider human emotions, sensory nerves, the mind and general human psychology. In essence everything that makes us human. In its simplest definition Architecture can be described as an art or practice of designing buildings. It is practiced in a way that accomplishes both practical and communicative or expressive requirements. To relate it to human body then Architecture can widely define the place, the site, the energy, the systems, the building, the flora and fauna. These components that bring aesthetic property to humanity apart from the utilitarian purpose it serves. The perfect balance of a normal human body and the proportions are incorporated into architecture from a point of view of imitation, idealized allusion and the actual human use. Evidence of such human incorporation into architecture is seen from the Ancient Greek Architectures where it was common for tower columns to take shape of a human being like in the colossus of the Ancient
Mies van der Rohe is one of the most prominent figures in modernist architectural history, the man who popularised some of the most influential phrases of the era, e.g. “less is more”, and strove to push his ideas and philosophies, not just on what he thought a building should be, but of what he thought architecture itself was. He changed the cityscape of America, showing the world a style that was simple and elegant, with such a controlled palette of expressions that shone through in its geometric beauty.
There is often some confusion when people start talking about the post-modernism and modernism in architecture in terms of their philosophical terminology differences. Modern architecture is known for its minimalism (Linder, 2004); buildings were functional and economical rather than comfortable and beautifully decorated. The post-modernism architecture, however, is called a “neo-eclectic, significantly assuming the role of a regeneration of period styles for designing houses, and a never-ending variety of forms and characteristics, asymmetrical designs for commercial buildings” (Fullerton Heritage, 2008). An example of these two polar opposites, “Less is more” made by Mies van der Rohe in 1928 (Blake, 1976) and "Less is a bore" made by
Architecture is often mistaken as purely an art form, when in actually it is where art and engineering or art and practicality meet. For example, painting is an art, when preformed well it yields a beautiful picture that evokes a deep human reaction and brings pleasure to its viewer, however this painting provides no function, it cannot shield us from the rain or protect us from the wind or snow, it is purely form. An insulated aluminum shed provides shelter and protection from Mother Nature; however, it is a purely functional building, it was drawn by an engineer, not conceived by an artist to have form. The culmination of form and function is Architecture, the Greeks and Romans fathered this idea and Palladio’s study of roman architecture taught him his valuable truth.
Gropius traces the growth of the New Architecture and the work of the now well-known Bauhaus, with accuracy, calls for a new artist and architect educated to new materials and approaches as well as meeting the requirements of the age. It is also mentioned in The New Architecture and the Bauhaus that the intention of the Bauhaus was not to reproduce any “style”, system or belief, but simply to exert a revitalizing impact on design. Even though the outward forms of the New Architecture differ primarily in an organic sense from the old, it is the inevitable logical product of the intellectual, social and technical conditions of our age. A gap has been made with the past, allowing us to face a new aspect of architecture corresponding to the technical civilization of the age we live in. The analysis of the dead styles has been destroyed. Furthermore, the new building throws open the walls like curtains to allow an abundance of fresh air, daylight and sunshine. Instead of securing the building ponderously into the ground, it poises them lightly, yet firmly at the same
Different architects have different styles because they are trying to get at different things. Architecture is not just about making something beautiful anymore, it is about trying to get across a set of ideas about how we inhabit space. Two of the most famous architects of the twentieth century, one from each side, the early part and the later part up until today each designed a museum with money donated by the Guggenheim foundation. One of these is in New York City, it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The other is in bilbao, Spain, and it was designed by Frank Geary. My purpose of this paper is to interrogate each of these buildings, glorious for different reasons, to show how each architect was expressing their own style.
Before the mid-twentieth century, museums in Europe and the United States were generally planned in variations of the neoclassical style. But, the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao moved the heading of gallery outlines, which gave an extensive show venue to twentieth century and modern art, designed by the famous architect Frank Gehry. Architecture is important nowadays to the public, because it offers a physical surrounding environment in where we live in. Moreover, architecture is not only affected by the culture, but also by the economy of the country.