Memento Vivere: Art Deco

Memento Vivere: Art Deco - Featured Image MOAMM

 

Marking an historic milestone, Miami Beach is celebrating its centenary Art Deco Weekend. Organised by the Miami Design Preservation League, this event honours and protects the unique heritage of the area. After the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, many residents were displaced, and since Art Deco was the style dominant at the time, the district became home to the largest collection of sleek, bright buildings designed to accommodate as many people as possible.

Throughout the weekend, the city will host a variety of events for both the local community and visitors, including guided tours, classic car shows, live performances, film screenings, and family-friendly activities. A personal highlight this year is the Expo Metro Art train exhibition, where I am privileged to be one of 239 global artists showcasing work. More details can be found at the Expo Metro Art Deco Trains Exhibition.

Art Deco emerged in the 1920s as an artistic movement characterised by bold geometric shapes, vibrant colours, and a sense of luxury. It became prominent in architecture, product design, and the decorative arts, aiming to introduce a new style of elegance and sophistication, contrasting with the organic, flowing forms of Art Nouveau that preceded it. The movement’s rise was catalysed by the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, an exhibition designed to showcase a new style of decorative arts, architecture, jewellery, glass, furniture, and more – rather than focusing solely on visual arts, as previous exhibitions had done. The expo was “open to all manufacturers whose products were artistic in character and displayed clear modern tendencies,” offering a platform for creatives from around the world.

While Art Deco’s rise was gradual, it gained global recognition after the Paris expo. Unfortunately, its popularity was short-lived, as the movement evolved in response to the time in which it emerged – much like the human life cycle. From its conception (where the idea grew and developed) to its debut after the First World War at the Paris expo, this style spread worldwide before entering a period of dormancy during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Despite this, the movement’s revival, particularly as a “retro” trend, has been nothing short of phenomenal. This renewal is something I wanted to celebrate in my art piece – Memento Vivere: Art Deco.

The skull, traditionally associated with death and the transience of life, holds a positive meaning for the Aztecs, a culture I admire deeply since my research on Frida Kahlo. They believed the skull symbolised regeneration and rebirth, representing life and a new dawn. Rather than invoking the traditional “memento mori” – a reminder of mortality commonly seen in art history – I chose to illustrate it through the lens of “memento vivere,” a call to “remember to live.” This reinterpretation aligns with the enduring spirit of the Art Deco movement, which never truly faded from relevance.

Rather than using the vibrant colours typically associated with the movement, I opted for a red palette, symbolising birth, passion, and, purely, to convey my love for the stylistic era. This choice contrasts with the subdued monochromatic tones, ensuring that the skull remains distinct as it emerges from a faded background interwoven with Art Deco motifs. This intentional contrast mirrors how Art Deco itself has managed to maintain its unique presence over time, despite the risk of being overshadowed. In this way, the skull in the foreground stands out, much like how the style has preserved its individuality through the years.

Memento Vivere: Art Deco celebrates the rebirth and preservation of this artistic movement, mirroring the centenary of Miami Beach’s district. You can view my piece on the Art Train, Car 1, on Ocean Drive between 12th and 13th Street – this coming weekend 18th –19th January 2025.