Understanding Futurism
Futurism is a flow of art that wants to forget the past and welcome the future through the point of view of Universal Dynamism, which not only deals with a concept or theme in one side like classical art but also describes it from all angles such as motion, sound, lighting, to the internal aspects of the work subject such as the human mind.
As a concrete example, a horse would be depicted as having only four legs in classical art. But in futurism, they would depict 20 feet or more because the dynamic reality of horses cannot be described as a stationary subject. In the perspective of universal dynamism in the style of futurism, the horse gallops until it has more legs, the energy it produces reverberates around producing a boisterous aura, its body and hair will have various forms that are not the same as its still state.
The manifesto of this school has the same nuances of thinking as one of the basic concepts of quantum physics. Especially in the superposition which means the middle position between the two main states that we can guess; open – superposition – close.
The Rise of Futurism
Futurism was first promoted by an Italian writer named Filippo Tommaso Marinetti in 1909 (Prawira, 2016, p. 91). In the futurism manifesto he wrote, he said that “the Italian nation has entered a modern era like a high-speed car”.
In this regard, in artistic expression he expects that:
“…art can forget the past and embrace the speed and energy of mechanics; new beauties add to the splendor of the world; the beauty of the motion, the speed of the car decorated with large pipes resembling a snake with the swish of its breath…”
Futurism originated from a literary movement, then spread and penetrated other fields of art, such as painting, sculpture, music, design, and architecture. Futurism emerged from the situation created by World War I.
This arts and culture movement has a mission to leave the bitter memories and pessimism caused by this terrible event while at the same time trying to leave the old values that accompany it.
Futurism Concepts & Themes
The concept of futurism is based on the idea that natural energy must be displayed in works of art as a dynamic sensation that can create a unified reality (Prawira, 2016, p. 95). One way to display it is through the use of motion and light. In addition, other ways are to change limitations into something dynamic, apply cubist shapes (inspired by cubism), and arrange text or words through typography. Typography composes the beauty of the text itself, not just embellishing it with decorative forms.
The main theme of the futurism manifesto is “Universal Dynamism” which seeks the sensations of motion, optics, of the greatness of the existence of machines, industry, and human achievements against technology at that time. These are all parts that have been neglected by (classical) artists.
For example, to depict a woman in a window, the artist must also include the surrounding elements such as the noise of passing vehicles, the hustle, and bustle of life seen from the window to the associations generated in the woman’s thoughts.
Characteristics of Futurism
Based on the definitions, concepts, and themes described above, it can be concluded that the characteristics of this school are as follows.
1. Letting go of classical art traditions
2. Using new styles and techniques that keep up with the times
3. Fighting the remnants of inner destruction from the effects of world war
4. Applying universal dynamism which means not only seeing a concept from one side but from all aspects including things that are often overlooked.
5. Contains various elements of new modern daily life such as industry, cars, and various other mechanical technologies that were developing rapidly in the 1900s.
Futurism figures
As stated above, futurism is a general movement of art and culture. So it never hurts to include various artists in other art disciplines such as writers and designers. Some of the most influential figures in this school are as follows.
Fortune Depereo
He is a painter and poet who focuses on futurism. Apart from literature and painting, he is also a graphic designer who makes a living designing commercial images for magazines and newspapers.
He operates in New York City and is an advertising manager for many companies. Depereo is also one of the legendary illustrators who made covers for Vogue and The Newyorker magazines in various publications. Until now, The Newyorker still uses a similar art illustration style.
Lucio Vienna
Lucio Vienna was born in Venice and then moved to Florence in 1912. He worked with the illustrator Emilio Notte and met the futurist Filippo Marinetti there. His works include covers of “Grand Sport” (1930-1932), advertisements for Debenham & Freebody, London, and briefly collaborated as artistic director at Scena Illustrata.
In 1917, he and Emilio Notte wrote the book “The Basic Linear Geometrics”. Then starting from 1922 Veena spawned more works of painting. The following are some of Vienna’s futuristic paintings.
Examples of Futurism Paintings
Futurism Picture Poster
Nicolay Diuldherof
A typographer born in Bulgaria. He studied at the Vienna School of Arts and Craft from 1920-1921, The New School of Art in Dresdenn (1922), and spent several months at Johannes Itten, Bauhaus (Germany).
He is a renowned designer who designs various products ranging from lamps, ceramics, and glass. Like other members of the movement, he has also worked in advertising firms for Cinzano, Unica, and Campari.
Diuldherof took part in one of the biggest Futurism events at the Turin International Exhibition in 1929. In the same year, his mastery of futurism in graphic arts was exhibited in Turin for a long time.
Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
Is a poet who was born in Egypt in 1876. He is the main figure who initiated the flow of futurism. One of his most famous statements in promoting futurism is as follows.
“Attacking the past and upholding the present life that has been markedly changed by modern science and technology”
Carlo Carra
He is a studio painter who has seen the works of Post Impressionists such as Cezanne, Gauguin, Turner, and Constable. He was a proponent of the Italian artistic tradition and had once painted on Giotto. But predictably in the end he decided to take part in the futurism movement.
The Most Famous Futurism Paintings
Gino Severini
An artist who had a great interest in light and cubism. Like Carlo Carra, he also had time to study directly with impressionist painters. He had studied how color theory changed the impressionist painters’ perception of the freedom of color as an independent element that was not merely a label for other objects; yellow clothes, yellow is an element of art, not just coloring clothes.