Minimalism From Shaker Furniture to Oki Sato - Research Paper Example

Minimalism From Shaker Furniture to Oki Sato ­ Sharifa Algahtani Corcoran College of Art and Design Contemporary Culture + Design July 9, ABSTRACT Simplicity is the point of Minimalisms. The more beautiful space is the simplest design. Because simplicity in design is straightforward, this paper displays the movement of Shaker furniture as a distinctive style of representing uncomplicated life. Between now and then, minimalism has been an approach toward making a new homes. A lot of designers follow the minimalisms trend for example, Oki Sato. He is a Japanese designer who is following this theory on his works. His goal is to design something that is joyful and stands for itself. One of his collections is very beautiful which is name Splinter Collection for Conde House. This collection includes well-designed furniture by using simple materials and shapes. I am going to compare between shaker furniture in the past and Oki Sato nowadays, and show how these people follow the Minimalisms theory on their designs. Less is more, this what describes minimalism. Living with less stuff is the meaning of life that they dreamed of. Shakers were a religious group of people from the 19th century that avoided a luxury life to live a simple life. Shakers believed that they served God by approaching each task with care. This care resulted in their style. Decorative arts and furniture characterized by traditional Shaker Values of simplicity, utility and fine craftsmanship. Oki Sato is one of the famous modern artists who focusing on small ideas that provide a strong impact. On his design he tries to represent flexibility witch describe simplicity. Also, these features made them unique in the field. For instant, they started with a small idea that ended up with a field of creativity. OUTLINE I. Introduction-Thesis Statement: Because simplicity in design is straightforward, this paper displays the movement of Shaker furniture as a distinctive style of representing uncomplicated life. II. Minimalism A. Definition 1. The term minimalism is likewise used to portray a pattern in configuration and construction modeling wherein the subject is lessened to its vital components. This kind of architecture simplifies living space and transfer simplicity in attitudes toward life witch is inspired from the Japanese design. Nowadays, Minimalism started to be a very major pillar of the design world. B. History 1. Minimalism is a trend from right on time nineteenth century and steadily turned into an imperative development in light of the over enhanced outline of the past period. 2. In the 1980s, Minimalist architecture became popular in London and New York where architects were creative to achieve simplicity by using white elements, cold lighting, and large space with minimum furniture. C. Minimalist architecture and space 1. This kind of design has a spread fast between designers, and each designer uses his own design to create a space from his point of view. D. Concept and design elements 1. Light, form, detail of material, color and space. All of these are design elements that important to be shown. III. Shaker Furniture A. History 1. 19th century ways of life 2. Architecture at this time 3. Religion effect: They started as a religious corporation. They were focusing on to be closer to Lord by living a simple life. B. Minimalism and Shaker furniture 1. How those people followed that trend and were famous at the 19th century and nowadays. 2. How designers inspired by Shaker furniture. C. Concept and design elements. D. Examples of architects and designers who inspired by Shaker’s. IV. Nendo- Oki Sato A. Biography B. History 1. Influences from Japanese tradition 2. Japanese way of life 3. Japanese architecture and furniture 4. Oki Sato museums and collections C. How he apply simplicity on his design V. Environmental Impact of minimalism from Shaker’s time to Oki Sato. VI. Conclusion Introduction Minimalism, today, has inspired millions of architects and designers around the world. While many have been exposed to minimalism in one form or another, very few understand and appreciate the underlying thought behind minimalism. Minimalism began as a very disjointed movement. It can be traced back to the time of the Shakers. The Shakers were basically a strong religious communal group of people who believed in simple living. Their belief of simple living extended to their architecture and furniture design which carried traced of minimalistic design. However, Minimalist design did not begin as a proper movement until the twentieth century. Minimalism in design gained momentum as a reaction towards Abstract Expressionism. It follows the principles of achieving more in less. Negative spaces in minimalist design are not feared; rather they appreciated by exposing them to bright white light. Oki Sato is one designer who appreciates the beauty of minimalism. For him, minimalism is beautiful with its simple design. This paper will discuss the simplicity inherent in minimalistic design by exploring the characteristics of both ancient and modern minimalistic design. The Shakers represent the old minimalistic style while Oki Sato through his design studio, Nendo represent the modern take on minimalism. Thesis Statement The main claim of this paper is: Because simplicity in design is straightforward, this paper displays the progression of minimalism from Shaker furniture to the more modern Oki Sato designs. In order to achieve this, the paper will first focus on defining the scope and characteristics of minimalistic design. This would be done in order to allow a better understanding and comparison of Shaker art style with that of minimalism. Both the Shaker and Oki Sato designs and design philosophy would be later discussed. The paper would end by commenting on the environmental aspects of minimalism from the time of the Shakers to Oki Sato’s designs. Minimalism Introduction Minimalism is a movement that began in the 1960s. In this movement, life and design elements are stripped off to their bare necessities. Minimalism frowns down upon excess and pride. Simplicity and order is preferred in design. The tradition design and architecture of Japan forms the main inspiration of Minimalism. Even though Minimalism as a separate art form emerged in the 1960s but the concept of this art was found in the works of earlier architects. One such architect was Richard Lucae. Lucae advocated that space in architecture is merely the interplay of form and light. Other elements are secondary to these as they provide meaning to the space (Mallgrave, 2006). Minimalism as an art form is clearly distinguished from other forms. Even non-minimalist artists often try to copy certain elements from minimalist designs. Today, Minimalism has gained strong popularity among designers and architects as the need for Green architecture has been felt (Mallgrave and Goodman, 2011). Definition According to Edward Strickland, Minimalism ‘is a style distinguished by severity of means, clarity of form, and simplicity of structure and texture.’ (Strickland, 1993). This definition contains the most basic terms that guide the minimalistic art styles including simplicity and clarity of form. History Minimalism arose as an art movement in the 1960s. This was a time when Pop Art had gained strong momentum and minimalism came as a direct reaction to the excessiveness of Pop Art. The movement was also a reaction against Abstract Expressionism with its focus on practical design. The artists associated with Minimalism include Agnes Martin, Donald Judd, Robert Morris, Dan Flavin, Frank Stella and Anne Truitt (Cheviakoff, 2007). In the 1980s, Minimalist architecture became popular in London and New York. This was inspired from the Japanese form of architecture. The architects in this period aimed to explore their creativity by infusing simplicity in their design. They used white elements, cold lighting, and large space with minimum furniture. Minimalist architecture and space Minimalist architecture draws its inspiration from Japanese architecture. It includes the same principles of clean lines and white light. Minimalist architects focus on employing the use of negative space believing that less is more. Other common features found in minimalist architecture are open floor plans, flat roofs and exposed textures of materials including that of wood and metals (Bertioni, 2004). Apart from Japanese influence, the art form is also influenced partly by the De Stijl movement. The De Stijl movement was a Dutch movement that began in Amsterdam. The artists of this movement stressed on reducing art to its essential form and color. Primary colors in combination with black and white were the preferred. Along with this, art forms usually consisted of clean horizontal and vertical lines. The main principle of minimalist artists such as Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe was ‘Less is more’. They strived to achieve more by using very few materials (Montaner and Savi, 1996). Many objects served dual purpose. For instance, floors along with their traditional use also served the purpose of radiators. Open Kitchens with simple and straight geometric cabinets are examples of minimalist design as they get rid of the unwanted kitchen doors. While ornamentation is not completely rejected in minimalist design but the focus is on simplicity, elegance and practicality (Cerver, 1994). Minimalistic Designers and Architects Mies Van der Rohe Mies Van der Rohe is a German architect who is considered to be one of the founding members of modern architecture. It was Mies who brought forward the concept of less is more that later become the guiding principle of minimalism. Mies wanted to create an architectural movement that represented the modern era. For this, he resorted to minimalism where he focused on simplicity and using pure structural forms. One of Mies’s groundbreaking works includes the Barcelona Pavillion. (Mallgrave and Contandriopoulos, 2008). This building is a reflection of the minimalistic design to a great extent. The glass and marble planes of the building are composed in a geometric manner. The roof of the pavilion is a slim horizontal line that stands of eight columns that are quite slim. The building, like minimalistic architecture, makes use of natural light. The glass planes of the building along with the pool placed in front the building created a shimmering effect of light. The interior of the building was designed in such a manner that it did not require the presence of artificial light. The interior also was quite characteristic of the minimalistic art with is long uninterrupted spaces and sparse furnishing. Le Corbusier Le Corbusier is also considered to be the founders of modern architecture. Le Corbusier is known for the concepts that he introduced into architecture. One of these was the five points of architecture which he explained through his building, the Villa Savoye. This building stands on walls of reinforced concrete columns which bear the weight of the entire building. This use of columns allows the interior of the ground floor to be an open floor plan. A free façade is also offered through these columns. The fourth point is the use of horizontal windows that allow the people within to be exposed to the maximum white light. The fifth point was positioning the green area on the roof. This was done to compensate for the green area that was compromised with the construction of the building. Bukminster Fuller Bukminster Fuller was a neo-futuristic architect who became famous for his Geodesic Domes. These domes, with their innovative designs, can be considered as minimalistic designs. The geometric shapes of the triangle that is used to construct the domes is one feature of minimalistic architecture. The domes are also constructed in such a manner that they allow maximum light to enter in the interior space. Moreover, the presence of the windows in the triangular patterns allows for the reflection of the light that enters into the building. Concept and design elements The main concept of minimalist design as discussed before is giving more use in fewer objects. Minimalist architects often reduce the materials to such an extent that only objects that serve a function remain in the designed space. There is no element or object that can be removed without compromising on the purpose of the object or the designed space. The aesthetic of the design is explored by playing with lighting which often serves as the focal point of the entire space. Large windows complete the design space as they allow maximum light to enter. The white light that enters into the building accentuates the clean and simple lines in the interior. Geometric shapes that can be repeated across the designed space or object are used quite frequently. In terms of color, minimalistic design prefers the use of natural color and texture. The use of bright colors is usually avoided by minimalist design as it takes the focus away from the simplicity and beauty of the design. Natural textures and patterns are also preferred in minimalism since they retain the essence of the material used. For instance, the grains in the wood are accentuated to give off a more natural feel. Shaker Furniture History Shaker Furniture is a form of furniture style that was developed by the largest communal society in America, The Shakers. The Shakers, formally known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, were formed when Mary Ann, a disenchanted Anglican came from England to New York. She, along with some of her followers, formed the religious sect by the name of Shakers. This religious sect was known for its simplicity, celibate lifestyle and equal rights for both the genders. The Shakers Movement initially got a strong response in colonial America; where in the mid-1800s, the society had nearly 6,000 believers. However, this society is more or less existent in today’s society because of its guiding principles of celibacy (Stein, 1992). The Shaker’s furniture and architecture gained strong popularity within America because of its focus on utility rather than form. The Shakers considered ornamental designs to be a form of deceit and therefore they stuck to simple designs. The Shaker furniture was light since the community used inexpensive wood for most of their furniture. The main construction materials used in Shaker furniture were Pine, Maple and Cherry. Architecture at this time While the Shakers have lost their edge in the current American society, Shaker Architecture is still very much present in America and continues to inspire architects and designers to date. Shaker architecture follows the basic principle of form follows function. The exterior of Shaker buildings is sparse with no ornamentations or design. The inside, however, can be likened to industrial design where space is organized into different patterns. These include storage units, peg rails, staircases and dual entries (Swank, 1999). Wooden peg rails are still the most predominant part of the Shaker Architecture as they used to run along all four walls of the interior. The Shakers made effective use of their internal spaces by installing cabinets and cupboards. These storage units and cabinets were removable and were often built in a separate workshop. Attics were also a main feature of the Shaker buildings. The use of even natural light was also observed in Shaker architecture. An important architectural building for the Shakers was their meetinghouse. The meetinghouse had a big undivided space on the ground level and carefully divided rooms in the upstairs. The ground floor was kept essentially bare so as to allow the people to perform their round dances without any hindrance. The effect of religion While it is the architecture of Shakers that has survived and gained popularity over time, the Shakers were predominately a strongly religious group of people. It was their strong belief and adherence to religion that guided the Shakers in most aspects of their lives including their architecture and design. The Shakers were Anglicans who believed in Christianity but also adapted some aspects of primitive Americans. The Shakers lived in a separate community and enjoyed a communal life. They have strong beliefs in celibacy as they considered sex to be the root cause of sin. Since the Shaker religion did not procreate, they had to depend on adopted children and converts to increase the number of Shaker communities. Repentance was also an important aspect of the Shaker religion and confession of sin was considered to be vital. Music was an important component of the Shaker lifestyle where dancing was considered to be a religious practice. The Shakers was also radical in the sense that they stressed on equality for both genders. Moreover, their principal leader, Mary Ann Lee was a female. A common motto by which the Shakers lived was ‘Hands to work, hearts to God’. This motto stressed on the importance of hard work. Shakers were usually hard workers. While they did not focus on creating the most perfect piece of art, they dedicated each piece of work to their God. Therefore, they were strongly dedicated to the work that they produced. Initially the Shakers were not strong craftsman but their dedication to their work made them one of the most revered craftsmen of all time (Swank, 1999). Minimalism and Shaker furniture Even though Minimalism is a movement that gained momentum during the twentieth century, Shaker furniture carried many of the elements of minimalism. The same focus on form is seen in Shaker furniture with the aim to design the furniture with a purpose. The Shakers’ interiors were sparse save for the basic necessities. The ground floor of the meeting hall was kept bare to allow the people to carry out their religious ceremonies. The furniture also was plain and uniform. Another characteristic of Minimalism that can be observed in Shaker architecture is the use of white light. The Shakers also designed large windows, at times placed above the doors, to allow natural light to illuminate the interiors. The use of materials by the Shakers was also similar to that of the minimalist. The Shakers believed in using the natural color and texture of the furniture to lend honesty and simplicity to their design pieces. Concept and design elements The main concept behind Shaker’s designs was the guiding principle that form follows function. Every piece of furniture or architecture has a specific function for the Shakers and they did not add any extra design elements to the form. Simple clean lines were a common design element in Shaker’s art. Within Shaker architecture, architectural elements such as doors, window, staircases, and chimneys, all were void of any ornamental details. All these were designed simply in their most basic forms (Shaker furniture). Light was also a main element of the Shaker design principles. The Shakers designed their architecture in such a manner that it would allow a good amount of natural light to enter the interior. This was mainly done for religious purposes such as illuminating the text of their scripts. Examples of architects and designers who inspired by Shaker’s The Shaker’s style of art has inspired and continues to inspire many architects and furniture designers. Many have also tried to replicate the Shaker trademark chairs in order to give testimony to the beauty of these simple chairs. Two of such designers have been discussed below: Gustav Stickley Gustav Stickley was an American furniture designer who operated his own design company under the name of Craftsman Workshop. Stickley worked by the motto, ‘Als Ik Kan’, meaning ‘to the best of my abilities’. This motto was based on his ideals of simplicity, truth and honesty. Stickely began his career as a furniture designer by making the ladder backed chairs from the Shaker style. It was later that he incorporated William Morris style of ornament into the simple design. Stickley claimed that he was inspired by the Shaker furniture and he also believed that creating the furniture was as important as the final piece. Stickley worked on plain wooden surfaces that were often unadorned. He was more satisfied with hand-made pieces of furniture as compared with those produced in the assembly lines (Becksvoort, 2000). George Nakashima George Nakashima was another furniture designer who was inspired by the Shaker style. Nakashima was a Japanese American architect and furniture maker who is considered as the father of the American craft movement. He gained his initial exposure to arts in America and later went to Japan to practice. Nakashima, himself, referred to his style as that of a Japanese Shaker. While many argue that Nakashima’s style does not correspond with that of the Shakers but on closer inspection, one can observe similarity in their design philosophy. Nakashima, like a Shakers, valued the material on which he worked. He gave special consideration to the grain of the wood. He even worked with contrasting wood colors so as to retain the true value of the material (Becksvoort, 2000). Nendo- Oki Sato Biography Oki Sato is a Japanese Architect and furniture designer born in Canada in 1977. Sato earned his Masters of Art in Architecture in 2002 from Waseda University, Tokyo. In the same year, he created his Japanese design studio by the name of Nendo in Tokyo at the age of 24. Nendo is a design studio that deals with various aspects of design including interior, furniture, industrial design, architecture, and graphic design. Oki Sato is the chief designer at Nendo. Nendo means malleable clay. The clay represents flexibility that Oki Sato intends to introduce in his work. According to Sato, the people of Japan live in small cramped spaces and thus flexibility in designing these spaces are more important. Nendo works for many important clients including Cappellini, Hermes, Starbucks, Puma, Cartier and Foscarini. By 2012, Sato expanded his company internationally into Milan and Singapore. In 2006, Oki Sato was labeled as the 100 most respected Japanese by Newsweek Magazine. In the following year, Sato’s company, Nendo was labeled as the top 100 small companies in Japan by Newsweek Magazine (Complex, 2011). Oki Sato is also well known for his Bo Concept. Bo Concept is a fusion collection with combines the aesthetics of Japanese style with the practicality of Danish designs. Origami forms one of the guiding principles of this collection. Another achievement by Oki Sato is the Puma House that he created in Tokyo. This house serves the purpose of handling events, product launches and other media events. In this house, the entire space is kept bare except for the staircases along the walls. These staircases are not meant to be climbed but rather function as showcases for different PUMA Shoes. These staircases also represent the fact that PUMA customers use the staircases in their daily lives to exercise the body (Sato, 2011). History Japanese Influence Japanese influence is very much evident in the work of Oki Sato. During construction, he depends on wood as the most preferred choice of material. A good example of Japanese influence in Oki Sato’s design can be observed in the private house, the Book House designed in 2005. This house is designed using wood as the main construction material. The walls and floor are constructed using wood. Also sliding doors and large windows allow maximum amount of natural light to enter into the house. The house is used designed using very thin walls which is another characteristic of Japanese architecture. Japanese way of life Japanese believe strong in Buddhism. Buddhism is not a particular religion but rather a way of living. It preaches a simple lifestyle with a love and respect towards nature. In Japan, it is common for extended families to live together. In the ground floor, the interior is sparse with furniture placed on floor level. The bedrooms are usually placed on the upper floors (Buckley, 2004). The Japanese also live in a city that is overcrowded with people. As a result, most Japanese live in cramped spaces. However, the Japanese are attracted towards order. It is this love for order that allows the Japanese to organize their homes without clutter and with practicality (Katoh, 1999). Japanese architecture and furniture Japanese architecture and furniture are deeply imbedded with the Japanese lifestyle. The Japanese are strong Buddhists who believe that the meaning and beauty of life can only be understood if the spiritual forces are acknowledge and appreciated. Therefore Buddhism forms a core guiding principle in all aspects of Japanese life including their architecture and furniture (Mahoney and Rao, 1990). The Japanese have always strived for simplicity and harmony in their designs. With time, technology and Western building techniques have seeped in the Japanese style of architecture but the love for simplicity and practicality still is the core of Japanese style. The Japanese depend on natural materials for construction. Wood and bamboo are the preferred choice for construction in both architecture and furniture. Even when using wood or any other material, the Japanese focus on bringing out the natural characteristic of the material. Such as in the case of wood, they focus on highlighting the grain rather than hiding it. The Japanese prefer to use neutral colors in their designs. This helps to give a feeling of a clutter-free area and adds a visual perception of space in the design (Galindo, 2011). The love for nature is also evident in Japanese architecture. Asymmetrical layouts that conform to the natural landscape are part of the architecture in Japan. Japanese homes often contain verandas and sliding doors that offer glimpses of the natural beauty outside. Construction materials used in Japan have a deep history. Even today, the Japanese use the same construction materials that were used centuries before. These include ‘wooden pillars, light panels, sliding doors, and simplicity’ (Hoover, 2011, p. 21). Tiled and gabled roof is another common architectural feature common in Japan. The Japanese temples are a good example of this feature where roofs are sloped. These roofs take up more than half of the entire edifice. These are accompanied by eaves that extend far beyond the paper thin walls (Leonard, 1986). Japanese furniture also represents Japanese culture to some extent. As per the concept of Shitsurai, the Japanese prefer to sit on floors and cushion traditionally. Thus, legs or stands are usually not present in Japanese furniture. The furniture is placed low, near floor level (Koizumi, 1986). Japanese interior are filled with abundant white light. The use of white light allows for the space to appear bigger than it is (Lewis and Judith, 1995). This is important considering that Japanese homes are often quite small and cramped. Oki Sato museums and collections Oki Sato’s work can be viewed at the Museum throughout the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal, Design Museum Holon in Holon, Israel Museum in Jerusalem, High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Triennale Design Museum in Milan. Oki Sato’s work through Nendo are also available for display at various locations throughout Japan including the PUMA house in Tokyo. Design Principles Oki Sato’s design principles are reflected in his design studio, Nendo. Nendo’s design philosophy is to change the way people interact with everyday objects. The designer focuses on creating small moments through the art that he produces. Minimalism is the main feature of the artwork produced at Nendo. The artworks retain humor and approachability in the design. The intent of humor is to make the design appear personal (Sato, 2013). Environmental Impact of minimalism In the recent years, minimalism has gained a lot of popularity among designers and specifically architects. The main reason, besides the simplicity of minimalism, is the carbon footprint of minimalism. As compared with other art styles, minimalism is very friendly towards the environment. The main reason behind this is that minimalism reduces the need for objects to the bare minimum. Objects having no value in terms of function have no place in minimalist design. This then reduces materialism in design which in turn results in a better carbon footprint. With time, minimalism has evolved to consider environment impact more carefully. Minimalist artists today strive to provide dual function to their design. Objects in minimalistic design often serve two purposes. For instance, a designed piece can serve as both a table and a chair. Beds are often mounted on walls so that they may become mere pegs when closed against the wall. However, Minimalism has not rejected technology. Minimalist artworks are often created by employing the use of the most modern technology. This has had a negative environmental impact. The Shakers, on the contrary, depended on mechanical tools for the work. Conclusion Minimalism is an art movement that focuses on reducing design to its basic form. Minimalistic artists focus on function and give meaning to a design piece through its functionality. The basic concepts of minimalism are the use order and simplicity in design. Minimalism is characterized through the use of geometric shapes, abundant use of natural white light, and natural colors and textures. These characteristics can be observed in the Shaker form of art. While the Shakers did not produce a separate art style intentionally but rather their minimalism was born from their simplistic religious beliefs. Minimalism, however, gained popularity much later and continues to gain a strong hold over designers even today. One such designer who is inspired by minimalism is Oki Sato. Oki Sato operates his own design studio, Nendo that carries forward the sample principles of minimalism that can be observed in the Shaker art style. Oki Sato believes in the same principle of functionality as other minimalistic artists. However, Sato has infused his own principles and beliefs in his design philosophy. He often creates fusion art pieces that borrow design elements from different art styles. In all these styles, the focus does not move away from the functionality and simplicity of design but rather helps in emphasizing on these particular aspects of design. 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