Alan Gerard Fletcher 1931 - 2006

Fletcher was a significant figure of British graphic design. He was a founder member of the design group Pentagram in 1972.
His most recognizable works are probably his logos, many of which are still used. I was surprised at how many of his logos I recognized when I researched his work. His logo for the V&A museum was designed in 1989, the ability to design a logo which can remain unchanged for 20 years is impressive. The design fits its purpose and function perfectly. The font used for the V&A is Bodoni, I particularly like the way he has crafted it into one symbol by using the stems from the ‘&’ to complete the construction of the A, creating a whole unit. I think this, it what makes it work well as a logo.

Other famous Fletcher logo designs include one for Reuters – made up of 84 dots and one for The Institute of Directors (still in use). I think the IOD logo is very neat, tidy and precise.
Looking through his work I think he is a definition of what a graphic designer should be. He has a distinct visual style making his work identifiable; they are witty, charming and perfectly put together images. His image of the number 27 bus with people on the top deck appearing to be seated on an advertisement is a perfect example of this.

References
The Art of Looking Sideways - Alan Fletcher
http://www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/previous-exhibitions/alanfletcher
Beware Wet Paint: Designs by Alan Fletcher
http://www.pentagram.com/en/

Takashi Murakami

I first heard of Takashi Murakami from his album art work. He has designed some of Kanye West’s CD covers.
His contemporary style is a combination of anime, manga techniques and traditional Japanese styles. He is a very commercial artist and I think he has found a modern way of making a name for himself in mass media culture, by not only producing paintings but also dolls, t-shirts and Louis Vuitton handbags. In doing so he reaches a wider market.
I think he shares similarities to Andy Warhol in the way that he takes popular (low) culture (drawing from manga etc) and could then be seen to redesign and repackage it as high culture. He is, like Warhol, a very clever self-promotional artist.
His own style which he has developed is called ‘Superflat’, his images are made up of flat bold colours and the graphics and characters are a mixture of manga and anime styles.
His album art work is, in my opinion, brilliant. It is interesting and exciting because Murakami took the character, a bear, which has appeared on previous albums and made it his own (superflat) whilst maintaining it as Kanye’s trademark. I think is represents a strong bond between music and art.

The Graduation represents a timeline of albums, starting with The College Dropout, for the Graduation a fresh new style is created for the artist – A Graduation. It is also a fantastic way for an artists’ work to be seen all over the world – mass culture.

References

www.takashimurakami.net/index.php?/site/C1/
wikipedia.org/wiki/Superflat

www.kanyeuniversecity.com/
www.warhol.org/

Superflat - Takashi Murakami
My Reality: Contemporary Art and the Culture of Japanese Animation - Takashi Murakami and Jeff Fleming

Feminist Art Movement

The feminist art movement began in the late 1960s; feminist’s aims have been to create equality (both in private and public life) between sexes. The art movement brought women’s accomplishments, in art, into popular culture and aimed to create work that relates directly to women’s lives, experiences and what it means to be a woman. I’m particularly interested in the work of Miriam Schapiro who as a pioneer feminist artist, she made work in the 1970s called ‘Femmages’, these were collages made from techniques she said were women’s activities sewing, cooking, piercing, appliquéing etc.

I think it’s a great example of women artists directly linking their work to female history and experience, things that are not traditionally or rarely practiced by men. The movement changed ideas of the types of art done by women and furthered the cause of the feminist movement by breaking down stereotypes. Judy Chicago has been making work since the 60s and is a feminist artist. One of her most famous pieces of work is the Dinner Party, which evaluates how women have been excluded through history.

Feminist artists made way for new types of expression in art and this filtered through and has affected the work of male artists. I think the link between art, politics and society is vital for progression not only in art but indirectly it initiates and forms new ideas within society. By creating new art forms to connect with people, and communicate ideas. The art movement was part of the overall feminist activism, the link between them makes many of the paintings produced in this time heartfelt and emotionally inspired. Perhaps of a stronger content and relevancy than something that has only been produced to be atheistically pleasing.

References

www.judychicago.com/

http://www.tate.org.uk/collections/glossary/definition.jsp?entryId=103

Wack! Art and the Feminist Revolution by C Butler

Feminism-art-theory By Hilary Robinson

Tamara de Lempicka (1898 - 1980), Art Deco Painter

I really admire the work of Tamara de Lempicka. I’m huge admirer of the art deco period and her style encompasses many elements of the era. Her works have such a distinct and bold form and use of colour. De Lempicka’s paintings have links to modernists and avant-garde artists of the time and her techniques were branded as "soft cubism", by leaving the actual form of the object together and as one but also utilising well known elements of cubism she had created her own style. Drawing from cubism De Lempicka’s portraits have effortless style are clean and precise, yet are sensual and elegant. Many of the ladies in her works appear to simulate the effects of desire and seduction, they are stylish attractive women often placed in unusual angular poses. She painted several self portraits, my favourite being Auto-Portrait (Tamara in the Green Bugatti).

I think it is an iconic image of a modern woman who is independent, yet her expression appears icy and holds an inaccessible or unapproachable beauty; the gloves and helmet she wears give the impression of someone liberated and in control.
I think her work is timeless and will be admired and appreciated for a long time.

References

Lempicka (Taschen Basic Art Series)
Gilles Neret

Art Deco - The Worlds Greatest Art
Various Authors