SML Pro Blog: Functional = Beautiful

Saturday, July 1, 2006

Functional = Beautiful

Living objects found in nature took their form not by how attractive they are aesthestically, but how useful their functions are. Yet, almost everything we find in nature is stunningly gorgeous. Man-made objects often sacrifice functionality to keep its beautiful form, but is statistically less beautiful than living things.

This is one of the main reasons why Manhattan Bridge is an ongoing subject for me. It is a functional utilitarian object created not for its beauty, but for its function. Like nature, living things take their forms not for its appeal, but for its necessity.

Here are some highlights from my Manhattan Bridge set on Flickr:

Related SML Flickr sets and collections

Manhattan Bridge, New York City / Project (Set)
HDR Photography / Project (Set)
SML Photography (Set)
SML Collection (Collection)

Related SML Pro Blog entries

HDR: Manhattan Bridge in Black and White
Manhattan Bridge HDR
Photography = Composition
Photography / Philosophy
SML Collection
Theorizing aesthetics

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1 comment:

AnonymousJune 13, 2007 at 4:08 AM
In nature, beauty can have functionality e.g. to attract mates for reproduction. So it can be argued that in some situations living things in nature take their forms and colours because of attractivness.

For man-made objects, features which seem to sacrifice functionality for the sake of beauty may serve certain functions e.g. to appeal to potential buyers.

If you are saying/implying that beautiful objects must also be high in functionality, this raises the question of what fine art is for. I believe that a piece of art work created solely to meet the inner needs of the artist can be very beautiful. What makes us humans is that a lot of human activities (e.g. music making) don't actually have much functional/material value but they "nurture our soul"

Could discuss more via email. LL
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