Secession or Loos??

salam...here we meet again...
Ok, I'll discuss what i understand on last class about that topic. Actually these two ideologies characters are play important role during Art Nouveau era. Although they were under the same influence of their ways of thinking the art, but was completely opposite the ideologies.

Let us check on Secessionist first. What is Secession? Actually is name for several groups of progressive artists that broke away from established and conservative artists' organizations in Austria and Germany.

• The first secession group was formed in Munich in 1892.
• It was followed by the Berlin Secession movement, formed by Max Liebermann in 1892. ( which included such artists as Lovis Corinth. )
• The most famous of the groups, formed in Vienna in 1897 by Gustav Klimt. (favoured a highly ornamental Art Nouveau style over the prevailing academicism.)

At this point, Pn Suzi  mentioned about the Gustav Klimt was formed in Vienna. Let me explain little bit about this guy.

Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 – February 6, 1918) was an Austrian, Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His major works include paintings, murals, sketches, and other art objects. Klimt's primary subject was the female body.

Klimt was a lightning rod for harsh criticism throughout his career. He either worked in the "wrong" style, was too "vague" for popular tastes or was far, far too "explicit" for Viennese sensibilities. After repeated skirmishes with both the State and the Artists Association, Klimt and ten other like-minded artists formed the Vienna Secession in 1897. Though the group was wildly successful, inevitable personality and style clashes arose and Klimt resigned from the Secession in 1905.

He is best known today for his sensual portraits of women (clothed or otherwise), enhancing his jewel-like palette with gold and silver paints, mother of pearl and bits of real jewelry, and his immense talent as a draftsman.

Let us check on his artwork...

 See, i told you before his primary subject was the female body.

(Judith, 1901, 84 x 42cm, Oil on canvas)

(Mother, 1905, oil on canvas)

(Death and life, 1916, 178 x 198 cm)

(Danae, 1907, oil on canvas)

So....when we look at the Klimt artwork, his artwork famous by elegant gold or coloured decoration, spiral and swirls , and phallic shapes; to conceal the more erotic position of drawings.

Mmmmm....try you imagine this style and put in your lifestyle now....hurm.....interesting? heeheeee...

Ok, now let us check the opposed the secessionist group.....

I begin with Adolf Loo's....who know this guy before...? mmmm...thinking? hee...

Adolf Loos was an architect who became more famous for his ideas than for his buildings. He believed that reason should determine the way we build, and he opposed the decorative Art Nouveau movement.



Adolf Loos, 10 december 1870 - 23 august 1933



Adolf Loos (1870-1933) is an Austrian architect and author of the article Ornament and Crime (1908), in which this anti-secession rejected the ornamentation and curved lines in Viennese jugendstil movement. In his essays, Loos was fond of using the provocative catch phrase and has become noted for one particular essay entitled Ornament and Crime written in 1908, in which he repudiated the florid style of the Vienna Secession, the Austrian version of Art Nouveau.

  

In Architectural theory, Adolf Loos believed that reason should determine the way we build, and he opposed the decorative Art Nouveau movement. In Ornament & Crime and other essays, Loos described the suppression of decoration as necessary for regulating passion. Picture below describe Loo's ideologies...architecture.




Michaelerplatz 3 ("Looshaus") , Vienna

It looks modern on that time...am i right...?? heeee =) At the time, his most controversial. One of the first modern office buildings in Vienna.

See how the diffrent the Loo's architecture compare to others building on that time. This shown the Loo's ideologies is opposed. What Loo's was opposing is, the ornamentation of everyday object and in architecture. To him, too much decoration is a waste of craftsman's energy and time for trend will soon be replace by another. But if function and simplycity is the main focus then the object will be more advance and up to date.

This some of Stylistic features of Homes designed by Adolf Loos featured:

• Straight lines
• Clear planar walls and windows
• Clean curves
• Raumplan ("plan of volumes") system of contiguous, merging spaces
• Each room on a different level, with floors and ceilings set at different heights

In our previous class, Pn. Suzie told us to relate with our practice field by choosing these two ideologies either Secessionist  or Adolf Loo's.  Ermm.......so, I'm on the Loo's side. As an industrial design student, i more prefer on Loo's ideologies for my references.As an industrial designer, i should consider on the practicality and it function compare then aesthetic. I'm not saying that the aesthetic is not important in designing the product. It could come with functionality first then follow by aesthetic aspect. Like "Form Follow Function" it come from function first then follow by form. Aesthetic is also important on the product to attract the consumer to buy or use it, but the ornamentation on that product its not overwhelmed. So from my own word, the Loo's ideologies is "less is more" and its practically to me as an industrial designer to use as references. And again, I'm definitely on the Loo's side.