Blog Assignment 5

Isaac Newton investigated colour in 1704, he created the first spectrum of light through a prism, and also created the first colour wheel.

Goethe opposed Newton’s theories in his book ‘Theory of Colour’ in 1810, saying that colour is something that each individual experienced differently in their mind. He believed that light, shade and colour had to be combined for us to see objects and their colour, ‘The eye sees no form, inasmuch as light, shade and colour together constitute that which to our vision distinguishes object from object’. (Goethe, 1810, cited in Gage, 1999, p.209)

Goethe’s views coincided with that of chemist Cheverau, who also investigated the ‘after image’, where if you look at an image for longer enough, when you close your eyes you will see and imprint of this image.

These views were then taken into account by painters such as Runge, who also believed that colours had a symbolic, or religious feel to them. This then sparked the impressionist painters such as Monet, Matisse and Van Gogh.

Our idea of colour has evolved from a very scientific, mathematical view to that of a now emotive reflection of life.




Gage, J. (1993). Colour and Culture: Practice and meaning from Antiquity to abstraction. (1^st edition) California, United States of America: University of California Press

Blog Assignment 4

 

“The evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornament from objects of daily use.”

I believe that in design today, instead of ornamenting things less, we ornament things in a different way, and as we evolve as a culture, so does this difference in ornament. What is ornament? Is it lavish floral designs carved into table legs, or is it sleek and shiny stainless steel teapots? As we advance as a culture, so do our techniques of decorating things. My example of this image of an expresso machine reflects my views, is this not ornate in its slightly flamboyant shape and sleek finish?  Today we have different materials available to us, such as plastic and metals, these materials enable us to ornament objects in a different way.

Loos has a point however when talking about the time taken on craft and the amount the crafstmen gets paid, 'those who produce ornament are no longer given their due reward'. Someone that spends hours carving something, should get a better wage than someone who makes a simpler thing that takes half the time.

But would it not be better to have fewer well made and crafted pieces, than things that took half the time, energy and love? The world would then, have a lot less junk.