From objects to design programmes

Abstract

From objects to design programmesJust as neodecorativism was generating the idea of a spiritually useful object,itsleadingproponent,BorisSmirnov,publishedhissuccinctArtist on the Nature of Things. 1 Itstitlealludestothefirst-centuryBCEpoemDe rerum naturabytheRomanpoetandphilosopherLucretius.Inthebook Smirnov discussed the traditions, techniques and symbolic meanings of thedesignofconsumerobjects.Inessence,itwasaworkofprofessional self-reflection.Smirnovpaidspecialattentiontotheemergenceofanew object,whichhedescribedas a complex creative-industrial [tvorcheski-proizvodstvennyi] process involving differentspecialists:scientists,engineersandartists.Theartist'sroleinthis processisverylarge.He 2 devisesatonceanobjectitselfandthewayitcan be used. An artist is a director [rezhisser] of the object's consumption; he organisestherelationshipbetweenauserandanobjectand,onthisbasis,he definesitsplaceandspecificityamongotherobjects,itsconsumerqualities. An artist should be broad-minded, cultured in his approach to a consumer object,whateverthepurposeofthisobjectis,andhoweversmallandinsignificantitmayseem. 3