:: JOY of WORK ::

Joy of Work??? what are this phase means?? and how that phase shaping the future in term of design.

Yeaaayyyy!!!

1st things i want to share with you is how its all begin. Its started in Europe between 18th-19th century. Europe at this time divided are into several small countries with each of it has a different systems of government such as monarchy, democracy, church and military. At this time, the major European powers try to expand their borders to become a great imperial power.


In terms of thinking, this age is the "age of enlightement" that give the society the freedom to think, emphasizes the wisdom. Plus, at this era "money, does matter" the more money one's have, the higher status they will get.

get it??

In terms of philosophy, Voltaire, with his "law of nature" give a new dimension in the way of thinking.  His philosophy based on "human beings are born good and ideas is a gift of God". Human all have emotion, and human emotion are all the same. Emotion are natural feeling, true and all human must sincere with their own feeling. Hearts and feelings are more important than reason.

François-Marie Arouet, better known by the pen name Voltaire

Another philosopher, Rousseau, state that human are naturally born sinless and honest. Feelings and wishes of good and truth is more important than reasons and causes.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau 

In terms of social and economic, this century is the century full of changes. The existence of the industry has made the migration to cities happed anywhere. Social conditions changed dramatically. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF ART AND CRAFT MOVEMENT since before this movement started,  arts mostly can only be appreciated by the upper class society only.


This movement  inspired by the social reform concerns of thinkers such as Walter Crane and John Ruskin. The movement advocated truth to materials and traditional craftsmanship using simple forms and often medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration. It also proposed economic and social reform and has been seen as essentially anti industrial.  

Diane and Endymion. By Walter Crane

In this period, manufactured goods were often poor in design and quality.  John Ruskin and William Morris proposed that it would be better for all if individual craftsmanship could be revived. The worker could then produce beautiful objects that exhibited the result of fine craftsmanship, as opposed to the shoddy products of mass production. Thus the goal was to create design that was... " for the people and by the people, and a source of pleasure to the maker and the user." Workers could produce beautiful objects that would enhance the lives of ordinary people, and at the same time provide decent employment for the craftsman.

Art nouveau is an international decoration and architecture that develope in europe in the 1880s and 1890s. The word art nouveau came from the Maison de l'Art Nouveau, an interior design gallery opened in Paris in 1896. 


It is characterized by the use of stylized organic shapes and dramatic, curving lines. Many of its themes are taken from nature, though presented quite abstractly. The Art Nouveau style has its inspirations in High Victorian style, Roccoco, and Japanese art. It has affinities with the contemporary Pre-Raphaelite, Symbolist, and not to forget, Arts and Crafts styles.

Rococo movement, the swing by Fragonard

C. Paglia on Pre-Raphaelite Art

Dark Romance - Book of Days - The Symbolist Art of Louis Welden Hawkins

Art Nouveau architecture and design can be seen in many of the world's cities, perhaps most famously in the Parisian Metro stations. Rennie Mackintosh was a major Art Nouveau architect and furniture designer who worked in Scotland and England. His work provides classic examples of the art nouveau style. 

Parisian Metro stations

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Rennie Mackintosh's art work :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The Art Nouveau movement sought to make art a way of life, breaking down the barriers between fine and applied art, and unlike Arts and Crafts Movement, Art Nouveau artists readily used new materials, machined surfaces and abstraction in the service of pure design. Plus, Art Nouveau did not negate the machine as the Arts and Crafts Movement did, but used it to its advantage.

"Art and Craft Movement" and "Art Nouveau". They are both decorative, influenced by medieval, pre-Raphaelite, art and have a ton of vines going on, but one is primarily a decorative arts movement about "how" things are made, and the other is an art movement about "what" is made. But they can both be understood as reactions to the Industrial Revolution.

"How and What" things are made for 

So, we return to the main issue,what can be related in the phase "joy of work" to this two movement?? For Art and Craft movement, they are adore the "making proses" rather than the end product. Means their "joy of work" blaze form "HOW" they make their art. 

For Art Nouveau movement, they don't really care on "HOW" they make their art work, but what they care most is on "WHAT" is made. Means, the Art Nouveau artist really care about the end product. Their "joy of work" came when they satisfy with "WHAT" they had made. 

YIPPIEEE!!!!

P/S: lets kokuat~ !!!!