Architecture

Art and architecture share many similarities. They've influenced one another throughout history. However, trying to liken these two disciplines will inevitably lead to certain contractions.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that Art, in its broadest sense, is defined as a creation meant to trigger an emotional response which is generally related to aesthetic pleasure. It doesn't satisfy any of life's basic needs, but it leads to thoughts, reflections, and often taps into our subconscious and our memory. On the other hand, architecture's primary purpose is to shelter individuals and ensure their safety. Architecture is meant to serve a utilitarian purpose.

Today, architecture has gone far beyond this initial function. Architects have strived to combine engineering and aesthetic research to create buildings that are so out of the ordinary we wonder how they were designed. They want their creations to stand out and favour originality and creativity. Just like in arts, architecture is influenced by the historical, social, and political context of the time and each movement has its own characteristics, from baroque to futurism to Bauhaus. Modern architecture marked a turn in the history of architecture. Architects revolutionised the social scope of their discipline and took an industrialist approach to society and nature — avant-garde architects rubbed shoulders with artists such as Georges Braque, Piet Mondrian, and members of the De Stijl group. Le Corbusier is a pioneer in collective housing, and also took part in ambitious projects which aimed to rebuild entire cities, such as Chandigarh in India. Decorative arts also developed by taking inspiration from the conventions that governed modernist architecture.

Contemporary architecture might not be a specific movement per se, but buildings that fall into this category share certain attributes. Contemporary architecture is characterised by curvy lines and various volumes in a single structure, as seen with the Sydney Opera House. The architect Jørn Utzon explained that he didn't seek to create a building for this project, but an actual sculpture. The building continually renews itself with new meanings and experiences for each passerby. Architectural works often require periods of deep reflection and a long though process in order for the architect to envisage how to give their building a sense of character and soul.

Whether architecture is an art or not is a never ending debate, but it is undeniable that there are strong links between the two disciplines. There are many examples of collaborations between contemporary artists and architects, and today the works of the greatest architects are exhibited in museums along with their fellow artists.

Discover our selections of artworks inspired by art and architecture!

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Painting, Buronzu, Ludovic Mercher

Buronzu

Ludovic Mercher

Painting - 97 x 162 x 2.5 cm Painting - 38.2 x 63.8 x 1 inch

€1,700

Painting, Tsuru, Ludovic Mercher

Tsuru

Ludovic Mercher

Painting - 97 x 162 x 2.5 cm Painting - 38.2 x 63.8 x 1 inch

€1,700

Painting, At home, AreiRa

At home

AreiRa

Painting - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€700

Sculpture, Pas 02.23, Yves Tilly

Pas 02.23

Yves Tilly

Sculpture - 34 x 12 x 7 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 4.7 x 2.8 inch

€980

Print, Pas peur, Philippe Matine

Pas peur

Philippe Matine

Print - 80 x 140 x 4.5 cm Print - 31.5 x 55.1 x 1.8 inch

€449

Painting, Old house, Pol Ledent

Old house

Pol Ledent

Painting - 70 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€898

Painting, Homestead, Victor Roschkov

Homestead

Victor Roschkov

Painting - 39.4 x 63.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 15.5 x 25 x 0.1 inch

€567

Painting, Wharf Shack, Timon Sloane

Wharf Shack

Timon Sloane

Painting - 22.9 x 30.5 x 1.3 cm Painting - 9 x 12 x 0.5 inch

€540

Painting, Square, Alexander Shandor

Square

Alexander Shandor

Painting - 70 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

€2,441

Painting, Buldin 2, Paulino Ustarroz

Buldin 2

Paulino Ustarroz

Painting - 55 x 46 x 3 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 1.2 inch

€600

Photography, Level 7, Barry Cawston

Level 7

Barry Cawston

Photography - 100 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

€2,750

Photography, Acapulco Pool, Slim Aarons

Acapulco Pool

Slim Aarons

Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 cm Photography - 40 x 60 inch

€3,550

Painting, Wintery, Nelli Tsenova

Wintery

Nelli Tsenova

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€920

Painting, La borie, Pierrick Tual

La borie

Pierrick Tual

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€400

Photography, Dianatempel, Bernhard Lang

Dianatempel

Bernhard Lang

Photography - 96 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 37.8 x 47.2 x 0 inch

€2,000

Painting, Morning, Trayko Popov

Morning

Trayko Popov

Painting - 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€500

Painting, Ciudad, Emilio López

Ciudad

Emilio López

Painting - 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

€1,700

Photography, 23 Flats, Barry Cawston

23 Flats

Barry Cawston

Photography - 82.5 x 90 x 2 cm Photography - 32.5 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,670

Photography, Nelda's Pool, Slim Aarons

Nelda's Pool

Slim Aarons

Photography - 101 x 152 x 0.01 cm Photography - 39.8 x 59.8 x 0 inch

€5,140

Painting, Série N.Y. #1, Koba

Série N.Y. #1

Koba

Painting - 60 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€500

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