Formalism Poster — Pranav Maheshwari

Formalism

What do you mean by the word space?

• The first thing that comes to mind is outer space, an endless stretch with certain outlines being highlighted.
• Imagine this on a 2D plane, I believe we can call these outlines forms.

How does this relate to formalism?

• The forms don’t seem to communicate any apparent meaning, the mode of perception of form in the absence of meaning is called formalism.

What constitutes as formalism?

• Forms don’t bind this idea of formalism but they could be words, musical notes or even colours.

Joseph Albers

Soft-Spoken — Joseph Albers

He used his painting, juxtaposing colours using scientific research on colour to express emotions through his paintings.

Jackson Pollok

Untitled — Jackson Pollok

• Fractal painting- His paintings seem to have no end or no beginning, they just exist as they are in time.

New Formalism

• Formalism being to abstract, humans wanted to give it some structure. This structured formalism is called New Formalism

Types of formalism

• Formalism as a thought
• Formalism as a method (Formal method in thesis, architecture, essays, and so on)
• Formalism as a design method

How to identify formalism in architecture?

• Defined Datum
• Not fragmented
• Hierarchy in terms of context — Generally set on a defined plinth lifting it above nature surrounding it