The Art Deco movement arose in the Roaring Twenties, a time of optimism in America. The First World War had come to an end and the world was beginning to profit from the technological advances made during wartime. Mass production had glossy automobiles available for public consumption while new inventions were revealed, including the television. With buildings towering into the sky, human progress seemed unstoppable and unlimited, and the style of Art Deco celebrated that confidence.
Distinct geometric shapes and an eye for streamlining distinguish Art Deco from other artistic movements in its day. A smooth, almost aerodynamic aesthetic surfaced from the appeal of automobiles and airplanes, incorporating their sleek visual style into works of art and architecture. The shapes were often patterned in architecture, a combination of round and pointed shapes. In paintings, the shapes tended to be more of a jumble in order to fit together as stylized natural forms, such as a face or a body.
From the 1920s up until World War II, Art Deco’s influence on the skylines of major cities was building. The Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, both in New York City, are among the great feats of architecture during this time. Skyscrapers were new and these stood as the tallest buildings in the world, a symbol of this American faith in progress, which is reflected in its hopeful Art Deco style. The steel and metal structure that had been used to create these skyscrapers was emphasized and celebrated in their facades.
Our use of the Art Deco style in the design of this piece has the ability to both place Vanishing Point firmly into the time period in which Act I especially is set, whilst also embodying the sense of excitement and innovation of the period – of opportunity and change. Because each woman used various different aspects of new technology as a medium for her various passions (a typewriter, radio, microphone, airplane etc) it is fitting that the design reflect the newness and vitality of the technology which was emerging and the iconic ideas of the era.
Prepared by Dana Shaw and Mary-Margaret Kunze
