As I was saying in my post ‘From the Canvas to the Runway’ modern art was about the change of ideas. The Impressionist artists of the late 1890’s saw no reason to continue the work of the ancestors from Renaissance and Antiquity. They needed an inspiration and it came from Nature. The subject-matter of a painting shifted from war heroes and the elite towards quiet beaches and flower pots and crowded restaurants and theaters. Art became closer to people and it became easy to reproduce it in print. Anyone could appreciate the painting and have one on their wall.
The Impressionist set the wheel of modern art to motion and by 1930 the subject-matter was completely removed from the painting. We all heard Miro’s threat:
I want to assassinate painting! I intend to destroy, destroy everything that exists in painting. I have utter contempt for painting… I will break their [cubist] guitar.
He actually meant it – the artist started to tear up th canvases and work with other material, making collages.
Moreover they were more interested in lines and squares than in anything else. Art became geometrical and abstract.
What impact did it have
on fashion?
In 1965 Yves Saint Laurent presented his Mondrian day dress thus paving the way for modern art in design. It’s interesting that actually ten years later Saint Laurent acquired two of Mondrian’s Compositions like the one below. Now abstract artists inspire a lot of designers for making outfits, bags, shoes,jewelry because these kind of patterns are easy to apply to anything and you don’t have to go out of your way to make it look like a famous work by a famous painter. Try this nail art DIY, for example.
Why is it popular?
I think the answer is clear – simple motifs, bright and catchy colors. If it’s not straight lines and squares then it’s coiled up and bizarre – but all in all simple enough – the language of line and color. Look at these shoes, I guess you can make it happen, just take those markers and color!
Would you care for a Mondrian Dress or for a pair of Miro sneakers?
Related Articles:
About Joan Miro Inspired designs
Latest Collections
Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl’s
The moment I saw these outfits I told to myself – that is a perfect Modern Art Fashion illustration. The collection was launched in October 2012.
To the stores! Get yourself a little Mondrianie Christmas!
ARTnCULTURA 