Artistic properties of natural materials in object design: imitation and interpretation

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study the artistic properties of natural materials in modern object design. The focus is on the problems of using the artistic properties of natural materials, as well as their interpretation in morphology and aesthetics.
 An important element of this interaction is the use of natural materials in design, which today is a current trend not only in the artistic, but also in the commercial context. Thus, natural materials often become the main goal of design practices. They are systematically used by artists to express their symbolic ideas, which explore the properties and content of materials.
 My personal experience in both design and fine arts allows us to speak about the important role of the analysis of the artistic properties of natural materials. From my point of view, this area of design requires a separate, deeper reflection. It is necessary to study and generalize the system of artistic representation of materials, which is often considered by researchers as a secondary task.
 As my research showed, an important component in the analysis of the expressive means of natural materials is the subject environment. It is for this reason that natural materials are equally interesting for both designers and artists. Orientation to the subject environment raises the question of the nature of the use of natural and artificial materials, their combination in artworks.
 The methodology. The purpose and objectives of the study determined the methodology. As the main ones, I used the methods of typology and structural generalization.
 The results. The study of the artistic experience of European designers, as well as the study of special scientific literature, allows me to mark out two main groups of formal means of expression. They are formed on the basis of the criterion of interaction with the natural properties of natural materials:
 1) means of expression that transform the original features of natural materials; this group considers those artistic practices that change the original features of the material under the influence of a general design decision;
 2) means of expression, which are the most natural properties and characteristics of the material; this group considers such artistic practices that do not significantly change the basic qualities of natural materials.
 Each group has its own morphological features, which to some extent affect the artistic integrity of the work. Natural materials are natural carriers of textural and textural qualities, the identification and use of which greatly contributes to the quality of the aesthetic solution. The natural aesthetic properties of, for example, stone or wood have a significant impact on the compositional-plastic and figurative-stylistic features of the work. These features form a more expressive artistic language.
 The scientific novelty. The article proposes the author’s typology of the use of natural materials in the design of objects.