Cult of the Machine

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I was intrigued by the de Young exhibit entitled "Cult of the Machine". It featured art pieces mostly made in the 1920s and 1930s... just when the U.S.A. was transitioning from an agrarian economy into an industrial one. 



An art movement called "Precisionism" was born at the time, which emphasised geometry: lines, angles, planes. I found this art form to be harsh, exacting, seeking efficiency. Although these pieces are strong with the leading lines, they most often point to an emptiness, an unknown in the distance. Perhaps, it is the artists' way of expressing the unknown future brought about by machination. 


I found the pieces more functional than artistic. For example, chairs, tables, desks were all "art"... and I couldn't see the art. The pieces were beautiful, undoubtedly; but I couldn't find emotion in the work done by Precisionists. The pieces were cold! But perhaps, the pieces ask for a logical thought process rather than evoke an emotional reaction. 

Only by going behind the artwork and taking a photo of the silhouettes casted did I start to see the art.


While mulling about how people viewed everyday objects as art, I started thinking about the chairs, tables, plates, and doors that I've seen in museums. Most of the time, these items were on exhibit to mark a historical period. 

Cult of the Machine was one of the few exhibits I've attended that emphasised on the art. My eyes and mind got opened to another perspective.

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