top of page
1907group1no3

(5)Ornament and crime

Updated: Oct 29, 2019

ORNAMENTS OR CRIMES ?

(1/10/2019 - 18:39)


Ornamentation, embroidery and adornment, are all decorative elements to highlight the beauty in objects, things or structures.


However, the question here is, are they really necessary, or could we bear without them?


The 1908 exposition Ornament and Crime by Adolf Loos is a gathering of opposing, strange tirades that were instigated by an elitist. Loos begs the readers to push off the devilish methods for the old and take up the battle for another advanced and increasingly humanized time, a time that photos humankind at its peak with no ornamentation at all.



Adolf Loos reprimanded ornamentation in structures, engineering, and design. He even expressed that decoration is a wrongdoing.


'Ornamentation and Crime' is still utilized as an asset in design in architecture and education.




“The evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornamentation from utilitarian objects.”


Loos pointed out that as individuals we are brought into the world with the realities that society marks, which are absolutely good or bad. While a few things can be taken as legitimate in an old culture, it might be the inverse in the present modern culture.


He also underlines that the arrival of adornment isn't just pulverizing the tasteful advancement yet in addition it is a wrongdoing against the national economy, work, material and time. Comparing a Chinese carver labouring for sixteen hours to an American specialist, a result of the Industrial Revolution, working only eight hours. Obviously the labourer will get more cash-flow because of expanded efficiency and productivity.


“…because half of the work done today is devoted to ornament. The ornament is wasted labour power and hence wasted health.”



Our given assignment for design Studio 4, is to propose a new scheme for Surau Al-Islah in Kajang, while designing the new building, I had to refer to already existing masjids and one of the most obvious and common things between them is the use of Islamic ornamentation to accentuate their beauty and make the buildings more exclusive and welcoming at the same time.



Loos couldn't have been all the more off-base about the fate of craftsmanship, design and human progress. Ornamentation isn't unnecessary articulation and is in fact a basic piece of present day human progress that can't be overlooked.


Which makes me wonder does he believes that a blossom is pompous? Is the plant considerably more satisfying before it has blossomed? I would strikingly express that blooming plants are in fact not developed for their leaves and stalks.


The refusal of deserting ornamentation emerges from the worry that we will lose our personality, or our way of life in the event that we quit ornamenting objects in our everyday lives.

I believe that ornaments aren’t a life need, as our human survival isn’t based on it, however, life would be too bland without them.


It’s only human nature to be attracted to exquisite things; sure, ornamentation is not a crucial factor as we could survive without it; nonetheless, do you think we could live life plainly, without ornaments to make it more entrancing?


Elshimaa Essam 1001747838

13 views0 comments

Yorumlar


Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page