Futurism

This isn't exactly a post on futurism, but it's along the same lines. When I think of futurism, things that are fast paced and anything relating to technology come to mind. The futurism movement in the early 1900's focused on getting away from anything considered old. People in the movement wanted change and to move away from concepts and methods used in the past. They liked originality. In short, they were the hipsters of their time, only far more passionate and without the tight tee-shirts. Futurism is a movement I'm fond of, because it had a strong influence on other movements such as but not limited to surrealism, vorticism, Dada and Art Deco. While it's not truly expressionism, there is an emphasis on free expression in the movement, and there are many artists today who have been inspired by the concepts of futurism.

Umberto Boccioni
'Unique Forms Of Continuity In Space'

 

Taking the idea of the future one step further, to a point where man has ceased to exist in his concrete jungle, and nature has reemerged to claim its territory, is a common theme in literature and art. Though the T.V. show, Life After People, wasn't a big hit, the theme of the show was exactly what many artists attempt to convey. In the photo below, the artist took a series of images of a house over the years as grasses, vines and moss grew over it. The image of in the middle of the series, before the house was engulfed by foliage.

Another example of Nature taking over.

Foliage on the garage

Greenery moves into the rubble

Plants growing up the wall

A flower emerges!

Nature taking over a rusting car

At SmithKlein Gallery, there are several paintings by Michael Shankman with nature taking over as a theme. Below are just two examples:

Prospector

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