Part 1: The Rapid Convergence of Art and Design (1)
Part 1: The Rapid Convergence of Art and Design (1)
Observing global trends lately, art and design seem to be rapidly converging.
Until just over a decade ago, design was the domain of a select few enthusiasts. And post-war design, I feel, was hardly something that could be called art. This trend began to be featured in auctions around ten years ago, and in the last two to three years, it has come to possess the same value criteria as fine art. Why did this shift occur?
In each installment, I aim to capture these societal shifts by introducing artists and works that bridge design and art. For this inaugural piece, I'd like to offer a broad overview of this phenomenon across two parts.
Photo: Jamandfix
All images courtesy of auction catalogs
SOTHEBY'S "Design since 1935" LONDON Oct, 1996
CHRISTIE'S "modern design" SOUTH KENSINGTON July, 1997
Wright "modern design" CHICAGO March. 2002
From Design Aficionados to Celebrity Status
About ten years ago, a craze for Eames swept through Japan.
I believe this was the first time that interior design and design in general gained such significant social recognition in Japan. This wasn't limited to Japan; design's recognition was growing globally. Symbolizing this, auction houses renowned for fine art, such as Sotheby's and Christie's, began holding design auctions one after another.
However, at that time, it was merely enough to satisfy a niche group of enthusiasts. It's true that this trend spurred the establishment of numerous modern auction houses, primarily in America. Then, about two to three years ago, another significant change began to unfold.
Fashion directors and Hollywood stars started collecting designer furniture as a status symbol, and influenced by this, design began to attract attention among the affluent. This movement led to the wealthy entering the design auction scene, which had previously been dominated by enthusiasts.