Metropolis by Fritz Lang

A scene from Metropolis

Metropolis was first released in 1927 and has since gained a cult following. The filmed is based somewhere in the mid 21st Century, which at the time was considerably far into the future.

An original poster.

The film depicts a distopian mega-city state, were society is divided into two classes, the workers and the thinkers. These groups of people are interdependent, i.e. need each other in order for their state to function. The main characters, Freder (the son of the Master of Metropolis) and Maria (who is a teacher to the children of the workers) try to find a way by which both groups of people could come to work with each other in a more respective manner.

The film itself is more than 70 years old. However, it still remains one of the most iconic films in German Expressionist cinema. 

Even though films are, technically speaking, moving images the fact that this film has remained so popular shows a distinctive amount of permanence. The subject of different groups of people within a society finding it hard to find a way to conform with each other, is still a relevant topic in today's world. Through this timelessness, a particular type of stillness can be seen when observing its impact on popular culture. 

In the Harlot of Babylon Sequence, were the Robot, which has taken the form of Maria, is portraying the infamous Harlot of Babylon. her positioning on top of the mound of the Seven Deadly Sins has an aura of permanence. You'd just think that she is to remain in that same position forever. Like she is just a work of art placed there for viewers to marvel at. It is because of this factor I wish to use Metropolis as a main source of inspiration for my project.

Reference:

Review of Metropolis [online] 
Written by; Roger Ebert
http://www.ebertfest.com/four/metropolis_silent_rev.htm
(accessed January 2014)

Metropolis – A Film Review and Analysis of the Restored Classic

Alexander Mercouris

http://mercouris.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/metropolis-a-film-review-and-analysis-of-the-restored-classic/ 
(accessed January 2014)

Gustav Klimt's Golden phase

Minerva or Pallas Athena 1898

Klimt's most famous pieces of work are those from his gold phase. The main source of influence for these paintings came from the Byzantine mosaic work which he saw in Ravvena and Venice. These mosaics employed the use of gold tiles. Byzantine art usually portrays historical, religious or regal themes. The subjects' poses  are similar to those employed by Klimt. 

Klimt's paintings proved to be critically and financially successful during his lifetime.  The figures in these paintings all appear to be permanent fixtures, never moving from their captured pose. The colours used in these painting convey warmth and almost narrate some untold story captured within the paintings.

Basilica di San Marco-Venice is famous for its Byzantine-style mosaic ceilings.

The topics he chose to paint are truly timeless ones. They are not depictions of current affairs, like a war or a country's political situation, Klimt's paintings depict, above all, beauty, romance and sexual allure. These are themes that can be understood by almost everyone, regardless of race, era or creed.

I chose to use Klimt as a main source of inspiration for my project as I see a sort of surrealistic stillness in his work. His subjects are all given a regal aura because of the way they are placed within the painting. His art from this period is his most famous, however I will be trying to focus on the lesser known (though still famous) pieces of his work.

Pallas Athene of Gustav Klimt: Eyes of a Goddess

Patrick Hunt

[online]

http://traumwerk.stanford.edu/philolog/2006/07/gustav_klimts_pallas_athene_of.html
accessed January 2014

Pallas Athene 1898
Klimt Museum
[online]
http://www.klimt.com/en/gallery/early-works/klimt-pallas-athene-1898.ihtml
accessed January 2014

Vivienne Westwood's designs and their relation with the topic Stillness.

The super-elevated gillie' platform shoes made famous for being responsible for sending Naomi Campbell flying during a catwalk show. (source)

Vivienne Westwood is by far one of my favourite designers. Her creations have all been influential in the world of fashion. She has never remained entirely faithful to one particular style, other than ensuring her designs are eccentric and unconventional. 

The products of her eccentric ideas means that some of her designs have become iconic masterpieces that still influence high-street fashion today. Her Pirate boots are one of the most popular of these a fore mentioned inspirations. They are comfortable to wear but visually intriguing to the customer.

Most of her designs are inspired by historical eras. You can see this in any of her catwalk collections. 

An Outfit taken from A/W 13

The famous "Pirate boots" which have been reinterpretated multiple times by various high-street retailers.


Most of her designs are inspired by historical eras. You can see this in any of her catwalk collections. She has always made her love of history and art evident in her designs. 

"When you explore the past you enter the future, I believe that designers always create a virtual reality: the create clothes for a place that does not quite exist, somewhere better." 
-Vivienne Westwood interwiewed by Luke Leitch

Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren were key players in the punk movement, responsible for designing the clothes of the Sex Pistols during their active years. Soon after the beginning of the Punk movement, their designs became commonplace, high-street retailers began mimicking their originally risque designs. Stripping away the style's outre reputation. 

  I have chosen to use her work as a source of inspiration for my project as I find her designs extremely surreal. As for their relationship with the topic of stillness, some of her designs have become a fixture in everyday clothing. Whenever one goes into a retailer it is possible to see clothing influenced by her designs. Be it in the fabric's pattern or the cut of the garment evidence of inspiration can be seen.

Bauhaus

Poster for a Bauhaus exhibition (source)

The Bauhaus was the first institute to teach art and design in a modern way. It was founded by Walter Groupius in Weimar, Germany. The school aimed to teach its students a new artistic style  Throughout all artistic disciplines, the Bauhaus encouraged innovative design that would be timeless.

A characteristic of Bauhaus design is its simplicity and lack of over decoration. The institute was the first to employ minimalism on such a grand scale. You could say that the Bauhaus was, in a way, a continuation of the de Stijl movement.

The Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer (source)

    

Bauhaus design has left a major influence on design. Street signs, modern architecture and graphics have all been inspired by the Bauhaus. Because of this, you could see Bauhaus design as not being a moving fade. Its designs were popular and remain popular to this day. Their style does not seem outdated like a Baroque armchair would. 

Their designs still appear modern after 80 years since the closing down of the school. The timelessness of their designs can be seen as being still, as they will not become outdated anytime soon.

De Stijl

De Stijl (Dutch for 'The Style') was formed in the early 20th century by Theo van Doesburg and other artists, designers and architect. Originally, it was restricted to art but was then translated into Design. A famous example of De Stijl architecture is the Schroeder house in Utrecht, The Netherlands which was designed by Gerit Rietveld. Sadly this was the only building completely realized to the principles of the De Stijl movement during the period in which the movement was active.

Floor plan of the Rietveld Schroeder House (source)

The members of this moment strived to seek purity of the highest level. To create a new form of design that would be universally understood and would not become outdated over time. They stripped away any unneeded details and left only the basics: vertical and horizontal lines, black, white and the 3 primary colours. Their work has no intricate carved wood work or bombastic stone work. Instead, it engages the viewer to think about what they would be seeing

van Doesberg font. (source)

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The lack of intricate detailing and excessive decoration prevents their design pieces from becoming old and stuffy in the future. Work by De Stijl still appears contemporary, even today. Because of this it has a timelessness that prevents it from appearing outdate. This timelessness can be translated as as stillness.