Postmodernism + Remix

Image from: http://www.e-flux.com/shows/views/7627

In the reading "Pop to Postmodernism" by Jonathan Woodham we are told of the historical development leading to the remixed and postmodernist design culture today. The introduction of mass media and communication, technology and cultural pluralism has enabled postmodernist design to develop into what it is today. These have enabled information to be shared around the world, between groups and also enabled people to exchange ideas. In the short clip "RIP: A Remix Manifesto" a key idea that is noted is this idea of people exchanging ideas through the internet and then remixing these ideas to create new works. I think this is particularly relevant to the postmodernist design culture as we constantly take inspiration and ideas from others work to then create our own. Mass media and communications have helped us to share works and ideas between one another. It is no wonder that artists such as Yayoi Kusama appear to have works that can be related back to historically significant styles, such as the pop art period.

A good example of postmodernist influences on design in the contemporary society is the work of Yayoi Kusama and in particular her installation using the Wellington City Gallery (Dot for Love and Peace). The transferral of two-dimensional brightly coloured spots onto a large scale three-dimensional object (the building) is something of wonder. I believe Yayoi Kusama, as a well known postmodernist artist has used a variety of design techniques in all of her works as well as in Dots for Love and Peace. The use of large scale and ornamental eclecticism is evident throughout her past and previous works and this shows how she has physically remixed the pop-art of the past into interactive and intriguing environments. In the reading pop-culture in Britain is described as the beginning of a noticeably throw away culture and this is evident in Yayoi Kusama's work, where large installations are produced but only for a limited time. It is also similar to the pop-culture of the past because of the use of the bright colours and eclectic patterns. Whilst Yayoi Kusama only uses dots or spots in her works she remixes her own technique and ideas to create a new aesthetic experience or feeling for each work, and this helps to animate her works. As mass media and communications increase between people, I feel that sharing of ideas or conceptual remixes will increase, especially as postmodernist designers are in societies where technology is constantly developing and influencing the way in which we project our ideas.