Futurism

Futurism originated by Filippo Marinetti in 1909. Filippo Marinetti gave importance to technology dynamism and speed.  Marinetti has said that “the gesture which we would reproduce on canvas shall no longer be a fixed moment; it shall simply be the dynamic sensation itself.”

Futurism is characterised by unnaturalistic colour, increasing abstraction and using force lines.

Speeding car (1913) and Speed car plus light (1913) - Giacomo Balla

Futurist, Giacomo Balla used diagonal lines to create movement and speed. His multiple circles suggested the specific movement of a car. Unlike Balla who explored speeding cars and light, Umberto Boccioni, a leader of the Futurism movement, was interested in capturing the endless movement of life.

In his paintings, Boccioni created an imaginary representation of his subjects by representing them with curvilinear patterns.

Futurist art included more than paintings. Fortunato Depero’s magazine cover and letter composition primarily uses text designed to show depth a well as movement. The magazine cover had elements like decreasing in size from a direction to another direction.

States of Mind, Those who stay (1911) and States of Mind, Those who go (1911) - Umberto Boccioni

An ode to the 20th century, Magazine cover (1929) and Free-word composition letter addressed to Marinetti (1916) - Fortunato Depero 

During the Futurism movement, there were other subject artists who were attracted to the World War I. They believed that Italy would have the chance to get a new identity.

The Futurist movement was a short movement which ended in 1916. Its influence goes much further as today we can still find designs like poster designs which are influenced by the Futurist movement.

Guns in Action (1915) - Gino Severini

Art Deco in the 1933 Worlds Fair and Victorism in Wyndham Lewis's BLAST

Brought back to life by Simon Page, the self taught graphic designer from UK

References:

• 99designs, 2012. Italian Futurism: a movement all designers should learn from [online] available at: http://99designs.com/designer-blog/2012/04/25/italian-futurism-a-movement-all-designers-should-learn-from/

• ArtWeLove, 2010. Futurism [online] available at: http://artwelove.com/explore/Movements-and-Styles/Futurism

• The Art Story Foundation, 2014. Futurism [online] available at: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-futurism.htm#