The film Blade Runner is the 1982 film by ex CCAD student Ridley Scott. The film portrays a dystopian world that has been heavily inspired by the industrial background to the area in which Scott lived and studied in his early career. There is also a lot of influence from East Asian neon billboards of consumerism.
In addition to, and to follow on from these points to the main interest of this post is the influence of the Japonism style of the 1800's found in various aspects of the production and set up for this film.
In addition to, and to follow on from these points to the main interest of this post is the influence of the Japonism style of the 1800's found in various aspects of the production and set up for this film.
Japonism came about through the treaties that were forged whilst industry and trade were becoming a huge money maker in the 1800's, alongside this was the fact that a treaty was formed in the first twenty two years of the 1900's that consisted of an alliance being formed between Japan and England and the growing conscious realisation that Japan was a powerful ally to have.
It was a style that appeared to be, at first, picked up by mainly Central European artists who began to incorporate Japanese motifs in their work through the exposure of Eastern prints that came alongside the wares that were being brought in by the military and merchants.
It was this period in time that was a major influence on one of the most notable art nouveau/ Japonisme designers: Charles Renee Mackintosh.
Born in 1868 and dying in 1928 he was present for the entirety of this art movement. He studied, worked and lived in the growing industrial port town of Glasgow, which held a strong connection with Japanese traders. As he was an apprentice for a large architectural firm, he enrolled in night classes at the school of art which further fuelled his interest in the growing prominence of Japanese prints and culture.
The draw for a lot of the people and artists who gravitated towards this emerging sty;e was that it was new way of seeing the space around you. Instead of furniture being solely created as decoration with little use, this breath of fresh air from the East began to influence and promote the idea of tranquillity rather than the dated ideas of over decoration and 'clutter' in the home.
Many of Mackintosh's ideals came from the Art Nouveau representation of art as beauty and soft, delicate works. Alongside this romantic notion he also understood the importance of utility. Although he is often deemed a designer, Mackintosh saw himself as an artist and the furniture and other products he created were art.
It was a style that appeared to be, at first, picked up by mainly Central European artists who began to incorporate Japanese motifs in their work through the exposure of Eastern prints that came alongside the wares that were being brought in by the military and merchants.
It was this period in time that was a major influence on one of the most notable art nouveau/ Japonisme designers: Charles Renee Mackintosh.
Born in 1868 and dying in 1928 he was present for the entirety of this art movement. He studied, worked and lived in the growing industrial port town of Glasgow, which held a strong connection with Japanese traders. As he was an apprentice for a large architectural firm, he enrolled in night classes at the school of art which further fuelled his interest in the growing prominence of Japanese prints and culture.
The draw for a lot of the people and artists who gravitated towards this emerging sty;e was that it was new way of seeing the space around you. Instead of furniture being solely created as decoration with little use, this breath of fresh air from the East began to influence and promote the idea of tranquillity rather than the dated ideas of over decoration and 'clutter' in the home.
Many of Mackintosh's ideals came from the Art Nouveau representation of art as beauty and soft, delicate works. Alongside this romantic notion he also understood the importance of utility. Although he is often deemed a designer, Mackintosh saw himself as an artist and the furniture and other products he created were art.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/articles/j/japonisme.aspx
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