The efforts of change from traditional or conventional prior to the following texts, were un-noticeable. “Ornament and crime” and “Manifesto of Futurism” in early 1900s, evidently advocated the importance of technology and machine in shaping up the new, futurist human life.
“Ornament and crime”, the text was presented by Adolf Loos in disagreement of the contemporary practice in architecture. Traditional methods in architecture used ornamentation to make objects and architecture aesthetic. He argued that ornament affects labor, health and economy, Divides classes. Ornament is anti-progress. “The evolution of culture marches with the elimination of ornament from useful objects”[1]
“No ornament can any longer be made today by anyone who lives on our cultural level … Freedom from ornament is a sign of spiritual strength”[2], he tried to define beauty in eliminating ornamentation then.
Parallel to this event, F. T. Marinetti, a poet, published his Manifesto of Futurism in 1909 in Italy. It also talked about unconventional form of art, literature and architecture.
“Museums: cemeteries! […] Why poison ourselves? Why rot?”[3] Said Marinetti, …what is there to look at the art displayed in museums.. The compromised dreams of artist… instead, he urged the artists, poets to join him…to be a part of the change… change to the old and framing new today. He criticized the institutions, museums for holding the youth back… abandoning the creativity and talent. “…But we want no part of it, the past, we the young and strong Futurists!”[4] He said that the next future would be for the next generations, let them throw us, our manuscripts and follow the course of future… their future. The artists like, Umberto Boccioni – Painter, sculptor and Antonio Sant’Elia – Architect, accompanied him.
Boccioni gave painting and sculpture, the new forms of expression rather than conventional, literal Classical style like Nude and Landscape. His expressions were made from heterogeneous materials and mixed media.
Antonio Sant’Elia, an architect became participant of the movement after world war-ii. His drawings of strong vertical lines and inclination towards technology characterized futurist architecture. This later on was described as art deco style in late 1960s. He imagined the industrial technology in architectural production and then more for urban form.
These events of ‘futurist manifesto’ or ‘ornament and crime’ later on fuelled the movement of modernism in architecture. Adolf Loos, Marinetti, Sant’Elia were the pioneer thinkers of modernism. Moreover, they influenced the artists like Tullio Crali (painting- Shaking Flight) and architects like Corbusier (vision of Villa Radieuse).
[1] Loos, A. (1908). Lecture on Ornament and Crime, 1910
[2] Loos, A. (1908). Lecture on Ornament and Crime, 1910
[3] by F. T. Marinetti, The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism, Translated from French: Le Figaro, Paris, February 20, 1909
[4] by F. T. Marinetti, The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism, Translated from French: Le Figaro, Paris, February 20, 1909