Modernism was radical; it was seen as relevant with its dominant era beginning from 1830s to the early 1960s. Modernism in architecture first came about as a social, economical and art movement, and gained traction due to its efficiency as an answer to solving various problems, particularly in housing and urban reconstruction.
In the late 1960s however, modernism began to lose its following and instead gained a number of criticisms from the public, due to the lack of creativity in their concept as well as the tragedies that followed in the eyes of modern architects who failed to recognise the needs and safety of citizens during its construction such as Pruiit Igoe (Rowe).
Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman illustrated the demise of modernism in his memorable 1978 photomontage, The Titanic. In it, Tigerman uses Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s most iconic design, the 1956 Crown Hall, to parody the sinking of The Titanic, into Lake Michigan.
Tigerman was amongst the architects that schooled the Miesian tradition, but his nature of curiosity and iconoclastic spirit led him to rethink the authority and durability of Mies’ teachings; more ever with the rise of criticisms towards modernism. He explains that the concept behind The Titanic was to provoke architects to condone Mies’ teachings and legacy (Art Institute Chicago). Like the sinking of the legendary 1912 RMS Titanic, he pitches the building of Mies’ most iconic 1956 Crown Hall into the deep, much like the situation of the demise of modernism.
Although the artwork portrays the demise of modernism, he did mention his acknowledgement of the public seeing the rise of Mies’ building again, ever triumphant.
Works Cited:
Rowe, Hayley A. “The Rise and Fall of Modernist Architecture”. 2011
http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1687/the-rise-and-fall-of-modernist-architecture
“The Titanic”. Art Institute Chicago, 2019.
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/102963/the-titanic Assessed 12 October 2019.
Amienah Simangoon 