Artists reclaim Architecture - a long term aspiration.
Primarily I’m looking at Britain, but having travelled extensively through western Europe, this project affects most of those EU countries too.
If you have ever considered Britain’s (and Europe’s) best loved period buildings, you’ll have noticed just how much their designs were influenced by the artists who were commissioned to ornament them. The enduring popularity of these buildings and their visitor numbers pay testament to a system where aesthetic style and artistic mastery was of primary consideration to the people, companies, churches and governments who owned them.
In the past, Artists were routinely consulted on many design aspects of architecture. I’m suggesting that artists should reclaim that high ground. The British Planning System often requires the involvement of Artists for large development schemes, but this usually nothing more than to fulfil a planning obligation or to comply with a legal requirement. Often there is no real will, it can amount to nothing more than being thrown the scraps. This approach is a missed opportunity, a terrible waste of talent and insight. For example, why use an artist to decorate a housing estate roundabout, when they should be designing the whole culture of the entire estate. Who better is there to advise objectively and tap into contemporary trends, fashions and values?
‘Modern’ architecture is dominated by cubist and modernist structures, architectural fashion of the mid to late 20th Century moved to simplicity of form and the removal of all ornamentation. The role of an artist in architectural design became increasingly redundant and now is almost unheard of. Picasso and Braque mastered cubism 100 years ago, then it was new and exciting. Cubist and modernist buildings do of course have a place, but today they are old fashioned, out of date and should no longer be common place.
I’m suggesting modernist structures have reached their apex with the advent of the ‘austere’ structures of the twenty teens. Personally, I can’t image any building type where an austere structure is more inappropriate than the new school buildings that characterise the genre. I can’t imagine any of these buildings as lasting legacies. Schools should inspire our children, make our children feel good, the buildings should do the same. Artists should design schools, artists should collaborate with architects who in turn translate the artistic design into practical application - this is the tried and tested system of the past. It’s hard to argue against it.
I’m on a one-man crusade to reintroduce ornamentation (modern and traditional) into architecture. Artists should reclaim their role in architectural design, particularly in iconic projects, public buildings and spaces.
I’m not saying that I’m an expert, my own work is portrayed in the adjoining photographs. You may love it or hate it, but you cannot deny (surely?) that with the inclusion of ornamentation, an arty house draws you in, draws all and everybody to think about what they are looking at. Immerse yourself in the emotion and experience of living in a structure that delights and surprises. Creative arty people can design this best.
So, if you are thinking along similar lines or perhaps you can articulate it better than I, send me an email. robert@ingrainedculture.co.uk
I believe the talent is out there to form a group of professional creative people (I’m not saying that I’m clever enough for the job) that Planning Authorities could routinely consult when considering new developments. This group could design and encourage modern culture to make people’s lives richer and more rewarding.
Nothing will change overnight, or even within decades, but I think it is worth exploring and fighting to reclaim what should be our territory. There is money in construction. Creative thinking artists who are well grounded, can remind society of the value of the arts in the built landscape.
