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Every time you see geometric, angular shapes embellished with chrome and glass or nature motifs like shells and flowers, more often than not, it will be design based on the art deco style. It all began in France. When a group of artists started the ‘Society of Decorator Artists’, to promote French crafts, they are said to have influenced what later came to be known as ‘Art Deco’. This was greatly influenced by pre-contemporary art forms from across the world. Though this movement was mostly popular between the two world wars and officially ended with the second one, it flourished in more innovatively improvised forms later on. The art deco designers and artists were inspired by developments in the field of modern art, including cubism, constructivism, and simplification, also known as Italian futurism. During the 1920s, a colorful boldness dominated aspects of western architecture and decorative arts, including graphics, particularly in Parisian salons. At the time, these salons were considered the epitome of this design style. Popular motifs included ziggurats and fountains, images of lightning bolts and lozenges, gazelles and greyhounds. Fruits and flora were geometrically styled while other cultures like Egyptian, Mayan and Aztec were influential in shaping this movement. The forms, resources, and techniques of the 18th century French furniture designers also inspired others, right down to contemporary times. Modern leather furniture designers like PortsideCafé in India are one of many who have adopted the art deco style in their designs. Although art deco was born in France, its influence was spread by designers and architects who loved the style. American architects also took on art deco designs to improve their buildings, such as the Chrysler and Empire State buildings in New York, including movie theatres and diners that were rapid growing in the country at the time. Essentially, art deco is about simplification and streamlining. In India, Bombay (now Mumbai) has the second largest number of art deco buildings after Miami. It transformed the lives the urban middle class. For instance, the Maharajah of Indore formed a taste for Art Deco by commissioning works from foremost European designers for his palace while the Maharajah of Jodhpur combined western and Indian art forms, eventually executed by skilled Indian craftsmen. In particular, coastal cities like Mumbai became chic and sophisticated based on these influences. www.portsidecafe.com
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