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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Photography, #11, Julien Espiaut

#11

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190

Sculpture, OooH ! Black, Eva Richard

Eva Richard

Sculpture . 13 x 12 x 4 cm Sculpture . 5.1 x 4.7 x 1.6 inch

€150

Painting, Night Reading, Lexi Caiqin

Lexi Caiqin

Painting . 80 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€9,500

Painting, Horizon, Nino Nasidze

Nino Nasidze

Painting . 90 x 80 x 2 cm Painting . 35.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€2,700

Painting, Ibis au Touquet, Nicolaï

Nicolaï

Painting . 130 x 97 x 2 cm Painting . 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.8 inch

€3,800

Painting, Row Homes, Lauren Acton

Lauren Acton

Painting . 30.5 x 45.7 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12 x 18 x 1 inch

€1,173

Painting, Untitled, Keti Shapatava

Keti Shapatava

Painting . 100 x 90 x 2.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 35.4 x 1 inch

€3,200

Painting, Country Church, Jean Chapin

Jean Chapin

Painting . 27.5 x 22 x 0.4 cm Painting . 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.2 inch

€400

Painting, Spring, Giorgi Kukhalashvili

Giorgi Kukhalashvili

Painting . 60 x 65 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,800

Painting, Liberation Dance, Nikolett

Nikolett

Painting . 70 x 70 x 3 cm Painting . 27.6 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

€2,500

Fine Art Drawings, The Red Step, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Fine Art Drawings . 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.05 inch

€5,500

Fine Art Drawings, Landscape, Myriam Bering

Myriam Bering

Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€400

Sculpture, 112, Hans Dieter Zingraff

112

Hans Dieter Zingraff

Sculpture . 100 x 136 x 2 cm Sculpture . 39.4 x 53.5 x 0.8 inch

€11,000

Painting, Autumn Landscape, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€250

Painting, Night Sky, Stephanie Berry

Stephanie Berry

Painting . 76.2 x 101.6 x 2 cm Painting . 30 x 40 x 0.8 inch

€1,624

Print, 5 pagliai, Tino Stefanoni

Tino Stefanoni

Print . 60 x 170 x 0.1 cm Print . 23.6 x 66.9 x 0 inch

€1,037

Painting, Building 1, Vakho Bugadze

Vakho Bugadze

Painting . 200 x 250 x 3 cm Painting . 78.7 x 98.4 x 1.2 inch

€10,000

Photography, Leaning Man, Edmund Sumner

Edmund Sumner

Photography . 59.8 x 47.5 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23.5 x 18.7 x 0 inch

€2,557