A recent opportunity to exhibit with a design exhibition has got me thinking about the difference between art and design. As I considered this further I also wonder where craft fits into this spectrum.
I’ve been submitting pieces to exhibit as part of group and solo art exhibitions since graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Once very reluctant to show my work, the VCA built my appreciation of the value of showing works as a means to get feedback, understand how the works are received and be in a space of vulnerability.
My work has not always been accepted in group exhibitions and this was the case with a series I’ve been playing with called Make Light Not War (MLNW). Unfortunately when submissions are rejected there’s no feedback as to why, so it’s often unclear whether it’s the piece itself or not sufficiently meeting the exhibition brief.
So imagine my delight when MLNW was accepted and financially supported to enter the Design Fringe Exhibition.
Firstly some context. The Make Light Not War project aims to challenge perpetuating myths surrounding the acceptance and integration of renewable energy technology into our daily lives. Given the clear science on climate change, the pieces aim to connect people to the potential and the optimism that this technology provides.
The pieces use remnant and organic materials, destined for the waste stream and integrates efficient lighting and solar chargers into their design. Each piece displays both energy creation as well as utilising the energy it captures, creating a self-sustaining process.
In creating these pieces, the goal was to have a sculptural presence as well as promote their aesthetic nature, the potential of the solar technology and create conversations about sustainability.
With that in mind I continued to wonder why they were not accepted as art but more as design pieces. So what’s the difference between design, art or even craft?
I’ve been an artist and craftswoman for many years. I reflect that my mother taught me her crafts like sewing and knitting, but I attended VCA to learn about art. Neither are superior and both have a place in my life as a maker.
Craft tends to be associated with making usable and functional items and with the everyday. It’s often been portrayed as the poor cousin to art and I wonder if this is related to their close association to women as the primary craft makers.
Art is associated with expression, to provoke, challenge and communicate. Unlike craft, it’s not necessary to be aesthetically pleasing or functional.
While the balance is more even today, traditionally more attention was placed on male artists, and recognising their skills through formal exhibitions.
I’ve discovered that design is a discipline that takes account of the aesthetic, functional, contextual, cultural and societal considerations.1
It appears embedded in everything we engage in, with both functional and aesthetic goals that aim for a superior product experience. We all know good design when we experience it, when things work and this medium makes money!
The terms are more than subjective. All three have a foundation in creativity and use similar skill sets, problem solving approaches and tools. While they have different purposes, they are all important in creating beautiful, functional and meaningful pieces and experiences.
So have I answered my own question? While the MLNW pieces, I believe, are aesthetically pleasing, (have a look at the curvaceous form of the palm fronds) the intention of provoking a discussion on the viability of solar technology and the addition of lighting as a functionality, has blurred the art- design line.
I’m interested in what you think about this proposition.
The Design Fringe 2024, is presented in partnership with Linden New Art. On from 6 September until 24 November as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Footnote
1. www.theicod.org/en/professional-design/what-is-design/what-is-design
