Walter Gropius and The Bauhaus Movement

Simplicity vs. over simple?

The Bauhaus, meaning house of construction was the most influential art school that combined the fine arts and the crafts as one. The Bauhaus was a modernist movement founded in 1919 by Walter Gropius in Weimar Yet, the Memphis Group was a post modernist movement. Established by Ettore Sottsass, the Memphis Group was a group of Italian designers and architects. Founded in Milan in 1981, the group challenged the perception of ‘good design’ through ornamental pieces. The movements were both equally different in the way they approached design, however, with the same intent of social change.

The Bauhaus and Memphis Group movements were a huge influence in the design world. These movements had a particular aim, as well as being influenced by other art movements, they were able to create their own unique movement.

The English arts and crafts movement, modernism and constructivism were main influences of the Bauhaus. Walter Gropius idea was to merge these influences, to make the reigning principles of form and function. The idea that design is a service of the public, and a belief in the perfection and efficiency of geometry. [1] Gropius aim was then to bring artist and craftspeople together, in order to take on technological developments. It was evident that technology was the future and with the use of machines brought opportunities to mass-produce beautiful products for everyday use. The Bauhaus embraced the ‘machine aesthetic’ as artists began to create prototypes for industrial production, the designs were based on simple geometric shapes and primary colours. These designs were to be mass-produced using modern technology and were to be available to all people. [2]

Generally, the Bauhaus is well k...

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...e schools philosophy as ‘anit-german’. [15] In 1933 the Gestapo closed down the Berlin school. Staff and students left Berlin continuing to spread the concepts of the Bauhaus to other countries, most fled to America where Bauhaus artist were more successful in spreading their designs. In contrast to the Bauhaus, the Memphis Group had no political involvement towards the movement. However the Memphis Group was conceived as a fad and form of ‘political’ statement that intended to shake the foundations of the design world, in order to break down the barriers between high and lower class design. Sottass had decided to end the group by 1988. [16]

Despite the fact that the Bauhaus school had only lasted fourteen years, there is no doubt that the Bauhaus and Memphis group movements have left their mark in the design world, making a huge impact on the world’s art today.