Department of Architecture and Design

Title: Postmodernism

Submitted by: Sana Idrees (017)

Submitted to: Sir Waqas

Date: 1st July, 2019

 Table of Contents:

 General Background of Postmodernism………………………………………….1-2

 Vana House by Robert Venturi……………………………………………...………2-3

 The Bank of American Center by Philp Johnson………………………………..3-4

 Postmodern art………………………………………………………………………....4-5
1. Andy Warhol, Pope of the pop art……………………………………………..5-6

 Proust Chair Design by Alessandro Mendini……………………………..…...6-7

 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..7
 References………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
General Background

The postmodernism movement started in America arounds 1960s -1970s and then
spread to Europe and the remainder part of the world. It is still a popular concept due to
its appeal and versatility. It was an impressive movement as it had drastic effects upon
literature, philosophy, culture, art and architecture. marking a desertion from its
antecedent, modernist movement.

While modernism was based on the concept of purity and simplicity, postmodernism
was born out of skepticism and lack of conviction. It opposed the idea that there are
universal certainties and asserted the fact that there is no absolute truth and the way
the people perceive the world is totally subjective. As stated by Kurt Vonnegut, “It is
exhausting, having to reason all the time in a universe which wasn't meant to be
reasonable.” Vonnegut, K. (1973).

It contradicted binary classifications such as male versus female, white versus black,
and imperial versus colonial. It holds realities to be plural, relative, and subject to who
the interested individuals are and the nature of their interests.

It also had a deep influence on the concepts of race and ethnicity. A great deal of art
during this era sought to redefine race, arguing that race is not based in any biological
reality but is instead a socially constructed category.
Postmodernist ideas could be found in a number of creative fields that merged the
boundaries between them, including: literature, visual arts, graphic arts, industrial
design, theater and dance.
Anti-authoritarian by nature, postmodernist art rejected the dominance of any single
style or definition of what art should be like, (Tate, 2019). “It refuted Modernist
preoccupation with purity of form.” ,(Desmond, 2011, P.148). It crumbled the
distinction between high culture and mass or mainstream culture, between art and
everyday life. Because postmodernism broke the shackles of singularity in style, it
introduced a new beginning of freedom and a sense that “everything is acceptable”.

Often humorous or nonsensical; it tended to be confrontational and controversial,

challenging the boundaries of taste, yet most critically it mirrors a self-awareness of
style itself. Frequently blending different artistic styles and techniques, the
postmodern art also consciously borrowed range of styles from the past.

In architecture, Postmodernism doesn’t possess singular style but an amalgamation of

various styles, borrowed from history. It complemented to urban context and embraced
decorative traditions. Postmodernism was, as historian Mary McLeod wrote, “A desire
to make architecture a vehicle of cultural expression.” (McLeod, M. 1989, P.22)
Postmodernism in architecture initiated an age of warmer architecture, buildings full of
character that displayed greater sensitivity towards context, urban landscapes and
expressed more humor and humility than the simple and earnest monuments of 20th-
century architecture.

The Post-modernist architecture was a direct response to the formalized buildings of

modernist architecture which lacked ornamentation. The post-modernist architecture
emphasized on ornamentation and decorative arts on buildings. In 1966, architect
Robert Venturi authored the famous book “Complexity and Contradiction in
Architecture” which argued for “richness of meaning, rather than clarity of
meaning” Venturi, R. (1966) in buildings. “Less is a Bore” Venturi, R. (1966) he stated,
in response to Mies van der Rohe’s famous quote “Less is More.”

Postmodern buildings had curvilinear forms, decorative elements, asymmetry, bright

colors, and many other features often borrowed from earlier periods. Form of the
building was no longer to be defined by its functional requirement or minimalistic look,
(Degetau, G. 2015). No materials were off limits, and no design was too outlandish.
Diversity of expression defines the core philosophy of postmodern art and architecture.
Buildings were designed not only to deliver their core function but also combined with
characteristics of meanings such as pluralism, paradox and irony.

Vana House by Robert Venturi

Vana House by Robert Venturi is one of the most iconic buildings of the post-modernist
movement.

Vanna Venturi House by Robert Venturi,

It was designed by Robert Venturi as a home for his mother in the late 1950s. He
reinterpreted the standard suburban house with an innovative architectural statement.
The design of the Vana House had a profound influence at that time and it gave birth to
the postmodernist architectural style. A pitched roof was proposed in place of a flat
roof; solid walls were chosen over glass; a purely ornamental appliqué arch was made
the centerpiece of the front façade. The main entrance is in the center, creating a sense
of symmetry that both is and is not there due to the placement of the windows. The
house exhibits amalgamation of modernist and mannerist architectural styles. (Keskeys,
2019)

Robert Venturi designed the Vana Venturi House, while he was working on his famous
post-modernist book “Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture.” A description
of the Vanna house is present in the book and the house is viewed as a realization of
the ideas represented in the book. He states:

Architects can no longer afford to be intimidated by the puritanically moral

language of orthodox Modern architecture. I like elements which are hybrid rather
than "pure," compromising rather than "clear," distorted rather than
"straightforward." Venturi, R. (1966, P.14)

The house was constructed with intentional formal architectural, historical and aesthetic
contradictions. Venturi has compared the iconic front facade to "a child's drawing of a
house." (Venturi, R. 1996, P.109) Yet he has also written, "This building recognizes
complexities and contradictions: it is both complex and simple, open and closed,
big and little; some of its elements are good on one level and bad on another its
order accommodates the generic elements and of the house in general, and the
circumstantial elements of a house in particular." Venturi, R. (1966, P. 118).

Italian architect Aldo Rossi credited the building with having "liberated architecture in
America and elsewhere", while fellow American architect Peter Eisenman described it
as "the first American building to propose an ideological break with Modern
abstraction at the same time that it is rooted in this tradition."

The Bank of American Center by Philp Johnson

The Bank of America Center was designed by postmodernist architect Philp Johnson
and his partner Burgee. Philp Johnson was a staunch supporter of postmodernism. The
bank of American Center is considered as one of the first prominent example of post
modernistic architecture in Houston, Texas.
The Bank of America Center by Philp Johnson

The Bank of America Center is a 56 story tall building. The building is adorned with
rough red granite texture which gives it a unique look. The building is divided into three
segments, giving the appearance of three adjoining towers. The distinctive stair-stepped
tower top helps define the skyline of downtown Houston and its creative façade of red
granite help make it one of the city’s most distinguishable buildings. Post modernistic
features of the building include the rich color and distinctive form of the building. The
luxuriant stone cladding and zigzag form make the building standout. The design of
Bank of America Center showcases a fusion of past and present. The building is
reminiscent of Dutch Gothic architecture of canal houses in The Netherlands.
Architectural concepts have been borrowed from 17th century Dutch Renaissance
architecture and applied in contemporary context.

The tower has a steeply pitched gable roofline that is topped off with spires. The
sculpted obelisk made from lead and coated copper, raise from every roof level creating
a unique and dramatic façade of the building. The obelisks appear small in size but are
eight feet tall on gable ends with topmost finials a crowning 12 feet high. In all the
building is topped with 86 obelisks. (Degetau, G. 2015)

Postmodern Art

Postmodern art rejected the Modern art’s emotional and spiritual detachment from
society. It aimed to eliminate the boundaries between art, mainstream culture and the
media. Postmodern art was a reaction against modernist art. Postmodern art departs
from modern art in not advocating singular ideology. (Desmond, 2011, P.148).
Postmodern art movement comprised of many different art styles which included Pop
art, installation art, Performance art, Conceptual art etc.

Pop art is postmodern as it has created a new vision of art which is original and new as
well as combining high art with low art.

Andy Warhol, Pope of the Pop Art

Andy Warhol was an American artist who was the pioneer of the pop art. His art work
includes paintings of iconic American objects such as dollar bills, mushroom clouds,
electric chairs, Campbell’s Soup Cans, Coca-Cola bottles and celebrated personalities
such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Marlon Brando, Troy Donahue, Muhammad Ali,
and Elizabeth Taylor. (Pdaayushi, 2019).He used bright hues in his work and used silk
screening techniques for mass production of his artworks. Marilyn Diptych (1962) is
one of his most famous works.

It is made of two silver canvases on which the artist silkscreened a photograph of

Marilyn Monroe more than fifty times. At first look his work shows an uncanny
resemblance to Christian painting art. Andy Warhol in his painting invites us to worship
the celebrated icon, whose image he picked from mainstream culture and eternized as
art. (Khan Academy, 2019)

Diptych with the Virgin and Child Enthroned and the Crucifixion (Art Institute of
Chicago)
 Marilyn Diptych 1962 Andy Warhol

The panel on the right has black and white pictures of Marilyn Monroe which gradual
effects of fading. Through the gradual effect of blurring and has tried to portray the star’s
demise. The contrast between the both panels, one printed in black and white and the
other in rich colors implies the contrast between one’s life and death. The repetition of
the image of the panels has the effect of both ratifying its impact and of neutralizing it at
the same time.
Warhol started his series of Marilyn Monroe paintings after the sudden and unexpected
demise of the star. He believed that through repeated exposure to an image, we
become de-sensitized to it. (pdaayushi, 2019) In that sense, by repeating Marilyn
Monroe’s face, he tries to diminish our emotional response to her death. The colossal
scale of the Marilyn Diptych (more than six by nine feet) demands our attention and
declares the significance of the subject matter.

Proust Chair Design by Alessandro Mendini

Alessandro Mendini Proust chair 1978

Vanna Venturi House by Robert Venturi,
Italian designer, Alessandro Mendini was a leader in early postmodernist furniture.
Mendini founded the design group “Studio Alchymia”. The designers transformed
several independent objects into single dramatic design. The Proust chair design
combines a rococo revival style with a pattern of tiny hand-painted Pointillist colored
dots inspired from impressionist paintings of 19th-century French painters Georges
Seurat and Paul Signac across its wooden frame and upholstery.

The uniqueness of the Proust chair doesn’t restrict itself to the pattern painted on it but
also extends over intricately carved curved legs and front piece.

To design the Proust chair Alessandro Mendini went to France to research Proust’s
world. Regarding his design Inspiration, he said: “I made references to Proust’s
descriptions of place and time on one hand, and the impressionist movement in
painting on the other.” (The Irish Times, 2018)

With this mash-up of historical styles, Mendini paved the way for Postmodernism in
design. Highsnobiety. (2019)

Conclusion

In conclusion, although the modernist movement emerged over 100 years ago to
spread ideas of simplicity, singularity, functionality and purity, it could not provide the
beauty and aesthetics to viewers because of similar repetitive designs. This led to it
being dismissed by the people. As a result of this, modernism was replaced with post-
modernism which departs from modern art in not advocating singular ideology and
covers the aesthetic voids in the former movement.
 References

McLeod, M. (1989). Architecture and Politics in the Reagan Era: From Postmodernism to
Deconstructivism. Assemblage, (8), p.22.

Venturi, R. (1966). Complexity and contradiction in architecture, etc. [With illustrations.].

New York.

Venturi, R. (1996). Iconography and electronics upon a generic architecture. Cambridge,

Mass.: MIT Press.p.109

Schwartz, F., Rossi, A., Scully, V. and Venturi, R. (1992). Mother's house: The evolution of
Vanna Venturi's house in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pa. New York: Rizzoli.

(Degetau, G. 2015)The Bank of American Center by Gabriela Degetau.

American Architecture Now: Philip Johnson. (1992). [video].

Vonnegut, K. (1973). Breakfast of champions, or, Goodbye blue Monday!.

pdaayushi. (2019). POSTMODERN ART.

Desmond, K. (2011). Ideas about art. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Keskeys, P. (2019). Architecture’s Eternal Debate: “Less Is More” vs. “Less Is a Bore” -
Architizer Journal. [online] Journal.

Highsnobiety. (2019). Postmodern Architecture in 10 Buildings | Highsnobiety.

Tate. (2019). Postmodernism – Art Term

Khan Academy. (2019). Warhol, Marilyn Diptych. [online]

The Irish Times. (2018). Design Moment: Proust Armchair, 1978. [online] Available at:
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/interiors/design-moment-
proust-armchair-1978-1.3456874 [Accessed 30 Jun. 2019].