Postmodernism,

Minimalism
&
Photo Realism

(Post 20th Century)

1
 Postmodernism
• Postmodernism began from scrutiny of Modernism. The
artists and intellectuals of the 1970s began to look at
Modernism as being a bit dodgy.
• It is a broad movement that developed in the mid- to late-
20th century across philosophy, the arts, architecture,
and criticism and that marked a departure from modernism. 
• The term has also more generally been applied to
the historical era following modernity and the tendencies of
this era. (In this context, "modern" is not used in the sense of
"contemporary", but merely as a name for a specific period in
history.)
 Post Modernism
• Perhaps most obviously, architects rediscovered the
expressive and symbolic value of architectural elements
and forms that had evolved through centuries of building
which had been abandoned by the modern style.
• Addressed feminism, equal rights and protest movements.
• The functional and formalized shapes and spaces of the
modernist style are replaced by diverse aesthetics: styles
collide, form is adopted for its own sake, and new ways of
viewing familiar styles and space abound.
 Postmodernism
• The idea of Postmodernism in architecture began as
a response to the perceived smoothness and failed
Utopianism of the Modern movement.
• Best-known and influential architects/ designers in
the Postmodern style were Charles Moore, Michael
Graves, Philip Johnson, Frank O Gehry.
• It’s a conclusion/ cobmined result of Pre-modern
Architecture & Modern Architecture
 Characteristics of Postmodernism
• The entrance includes a massive round arch, similar to a triumphal arch or a
Romanesque portal.

• Postmodernist building were a stack of varied design elements for a single vocabulary
from ground level to the top.

• The top slopes down like a pediment, including a space in the middle known as an
orbiculum.

• Similar to old cathedrals, draws the eye upwards toward the sky.
 Characteristics of Postmodernism
• Conceptual characteristics - pluralism, double coding, high ceilings, irony,
paradox & contextualism.

• Sensitivity to the building’s context, history and the client’s requirements.

• Physical characteristics- the use of sculptural forms, ornaments and

anthropomorphism

• Post modernists looked into past architecture in order to learn from it.
 Characteristics of Postmodernism
• Classical designs such as pillars, arches, and domes
used in new, almost humorous ways, just to send a
message to the modernist people.

• Used classical styles in new combinations: pillars, arches,

domes, curtain wall facades, sculptures and roman
conventions
 Minimalism
• Minimalism started in 1960s in U.S. It is most basic, stripped
of surplus elements, colors, shapes and textures.
• It was the reaction to Abstract Expressionism.
• The forms are abstract, clean, simple, and are machine made.
• Described in art, design and music.
• Its purpose is to make the content stand out and be the focal
point.
• Minimalist design is meant to be calming and to bring the mind
down to the basics.
• Believes of “Less is more” become prevalent.
 Characteristics of Minimalism
• It is the intentional promotion of the things we most
value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.
• Creation of singularity & zero ornamentation.
• Geometry and symmetry is considered.
• No depiction of any emotion.
• The considerations for ‘essences’ are light, form,
detail of material, space, place and human condition.
 Characteristics of Minimalism
• Furniture must have streamline shapes and
upholstered with neutral colored leather.
• Minimalism in interior design means spacious rooms
with minimum of furniture and details.
• Planning doesn’t suppose dividing into rooms;
furniture, cloth or glass partitions play the role of
separators.
 Photorealism
• Photorealism is an art movement that involves replicating the
original photo image into a painting or a sculpture in exact
detail so that they are indistinguishable from the original
subject.
• Photorealism originated in the United States in the 1960’s.
• Clearly deriving from Pop Art, but without satirical commentary.
• Other names for Photorealism are: Hyperrealism,
Superrealism, Sharp Focus & New Realism.
• The photorealist must have the technical ability to make the
finished work appear photographic.
 Photorealism
• Photorealism had the same affectlessness as minimalism.
• To be a photorealist painter, the work should adhere strictly to
the information found in the photo.
• Photorealist shared with minimalist a prediction to see art
making as a decision process.
• The photorealist uses a mechanical/semi-mechanical way to
transfer the information/picture to the canvas
 Characteristics of Photorealism
• The artist should not go out of their way to be pictorial.
• The photorealist uses the camera/photographs to gather information.
• The subject should be found rather than arranged.
• Geometric and colorful. Lets art speak for itself.
• More cluttered than minimalism, no “less is more”.
• Relies very heavily on good technique and skill.
 References

• References:
» Google Search
» Ref. textbooks
» https://www.slideshare.net
» https://en.wikipedia.org

…Thanks
14