Presentation: Art Deco Animalia
About
Humans have always had a strong cultural bond with animals, which over millennia have featured in representations from cave paintings to fine art, the expression ranging from realistic to symbolic.Romanticism and realism dominated from 1850 until, at the end of the century, the advent of photography and the influence of impressionism, cubism and surrealism all contributed to the changing way animals were depicted. By the 1920s Art Nouveau's organic naturalism was replaced by Art Deco’s sleek, stylised geometric forms reflecting modernity, glamour, strength, luxury and sophistication. Influenced by technology, speed and consumerism, Art Deco was a total style movement spreading all round the world and impacting on all facets of public and individual life.
Beginning with Francois Pompom’s polar bear of 1922 almost all animals were depicted with Art Deco styling including sleek panthers, graceful borzoi dogs, majestic elephants and bears, as well as small animals, birds, sea creatures, reptiles and insects. There is something timeless and universal about the smooth stylised lines of Art Deco animalia, which accounts for its ubiquity in architecture, art, sculpture, jewellery, textiles and all variety of domestic products. Output ranged from expensive singular commissioned pieces of fine art through limited-editions to cheaper mass-produced consumer items.
Famous designers such as Rene Lalique (glassware) and Edgar Brandt (ironwork) created many pieces which featured Art Deco styled animals.
Australia is a special case for Art Deco animalia as, after Federation in 1900, there was pressure for local national identity formation, culminating in a significant increase in adapting the unique and relatively newly discovered Australian native flora and fauna into designs during the period when Art Deco styling also reflected a modern and progressive outlook.
Join us at 7:30 pm for nibbles and chats before we are seated by 8:00 pm for the presentation by author Peter Sheridan.
Date
Thursday 23 July 2026 7:30 PM - 9:45 PM (UTC+10)Location
The Glasshouse Caulfield
31 Station Street, Caulfield East Vic 3145
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Presentation: Art Deco Animalia
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