Serious and faceless abstractionism that existed in the first half of the twentieth century was replaced by pop art. The name of the term denoted the use of symbols more understandable to a wide audience and objects of mass culture. This combination best reflected the mood of its time. As a style, pop art originated in Britain and finally consolidated and developed in America in the 50-60s of the XX century. The first works in this style were often inspired by random objects, such as comic book covers, portraits of cinema or pop stars, emblems or logos of well-known drinks, etc. Pop art is characterized by bright colors, collage-style technique, photo printing, and alternating textures. The direction drew its inspiration from the world of advertising, trends, as well as fashion.
The birthplace of pop art is considered to be Great Britain. In 1952, a London group of young artists and other talented people called the Independent Group was born. Its participants were the first to hold exhibitions with samples of pop art. Their work had a strong influence on the subsequent development of the movement. But an active rise of pop art took place in the United States of America.
What Caused the Emergence of Pop Art
After the bloody wars of the 20th century, an economic boom and mass production followed. Nearly every household had a TV and a lot of free time, which made television the dominant media in the 1950s. Along with new technologies, the advertising industry of brands has also spread and developed.
However, over a decade, people began to notice the stereotypes of this social order, growing cultural and gender injustice and inequality. Many artists wanted to challenge this order of things and describe what actually happened around them. In protest, they turned to pop music, grocery packaging, comics, and Hollywood films, using images of mass production to create art that would contain criticism. And so this style of painting, sculpture, and fashion was born.
Criticism of Pop Art
Despite the growing interest in the movement and a large number of adherents, some art critics criticized pop art. Most critics considered Pop Art too primitive, instilling vulgarity and bad taste in society. They argued that it was a mistake to call pop art an artistic direction, it was just a style of advertising. There was an opinion that pop art can serve to form a lack of spirituality in society, meaningless consumption of goods and services, and conformist tendencies.
In response, the representatives of pop art claimed that in their work they wanted to create closer to reality and convey things that were understandable to the common man in the street, because the works of the abstractionists were too ephemeral and cut off from everyday life. Pop art really does not contain abstruse conceptual ideas, it is addressed to people in the same way as the media are addressed to them. No wonder the heyday of pop art coincided with the ubiquity of television, glossy magazines, and the beginning of the era of mass consumption.
The Impact of Pop Art on Various Spheres
Over time, the pop art movement has had an impact on clothing design in the form of prints and interiors as room decoration. Posters on the walls, a triptych of Marilyn Monroe and other stars, hand-made vases from cans – these are all elements of pop art. The mentioned triptych is a classic by Andy Warhol from the famous photograph of the actress in 1953. Bright colors of furniture, the creativity of forms, retro-futurism, variety and versatility of furniture and accessories should appeal to people who want to equip their homes in the best traditions of pop art.
Of course, lively and colorful prints could not help but leave their mark on fashion, and they continue to do this up to this day. In addition to Warhol and the use of his portraits and work on garments, everyone knows Roy Lichtenstein’s work visually. In early 2010, a whole collection of dresses was devoted to his comics, and after a while, a series of sweaters, shoes, including sports shoes, was released.
In architecture, the manifestation of the pop art style can be seen in small architectural forms, in the use of bright colors, the application of graffiti on the surface of houses, walkways, shops.
What can be said about today’s pop art and its future? It continues to exist in a variety of formats, including painting and photography. Echoes of pop art can be found in comic book prints, signboards, this is a common design style for clubs and cafes. Its influence on film, theater, and music is also indisputable. One thing remains clear – the bold pop art style can undergo some changes and improvements, but its elements will be popular for a long time, especially among young people.
