Art deco and avant-garde: the nature of interaction

Abstract

The subject of this research is the distinctions between two fundamental trends in art of the XX century – art deco and avant-garde, as well as determination of the nature of their interaction. The object of this research is the original texts of artisans and art monuments belonging to both fields. Special attention is given to characteristics of the specific features of art deco and avant-garde, identification of similarities and differences of the two simultaneously developing stylistic concepts. The author examines the key event for the history of interaction of these two trends, namely the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts held in Paris in 1925, and criticism that formed views on art of the era of modernism. The scientific novelty consists in examination of the two paramount trends for grasping history of culture of the XX century in the context of their interaction. Since 1966, art deco was not recognized as an in dependent style, but rather closely connected with modernism and patterned on avant-garde. The main conclusion of the conducted research consists in revelation of adaptive cultural mechanism that allowed art deco to overcome a number of problems, among which in underlines the relation to technological progress and mass society. The author highlights that both trends should be viewed in the context of cultural dialogue. First and foremost, they were united by orientation towards modernity and development of innovative language of art.