An object in the interior design as a concept of integrating decorative and applied art into the design of premises

Mikhailenko Anastasiia designer, director KREATIVE Market design studio, master and teacher of decorative and applied arts, member of the professional Union of Artists of Russia. 390027, Russia, Ryazan region, Ryazan, Bystretskaya str., 11 kreativ-market@mail.ru Other publications by this author

Decorative and applied art is a type of artistic creativity that encompasses many varieties of professional and amateur creative activities aimed at creating products that combine utilitarian, aesthetic and artistic functions in one way or another. This collective term conventionally combines two broad types of art: decorative and applied. Sometimes this broad area, together with design, is called subject creativity. Works of decorative and applied art can have practical, and therefore applied use, or serve as decoration in the broadest sense of the word, which means decorative art. In the first case, the key concept is utilitarianism or a utilitarian function, in the second — decor. Thus, decorative and applied art, along with architecture and design, belongs to the genus of bifunctional arts ^[1].

In fact, decorative and applied art is the creativity of people, aimed not only at decoration, but also for use in everyday life. It has not only an aesthetic, but not an artistic character. Decorative and applied art is organically connected with the concept of interior design, and aesthetic function and imaginative solution are priorities ^[2]. It follows from this that the integration of things and handmade objects into the interior design of residential and public spaces is the right direction for the development of design and bifunctional arts. Currently, the trend of creating interior spaces using objects and techniques of decorative and applied art is widely used. Conducting a comprehensive study of this area, the article formulated the basic principles of integrating objects into the interior and developed the concept of "things in the interior", used to give the interior a certain design style.

"Interior design in the modern world is based on the foundation of a number of features that serve to ensure a comfortable existence indoors" ^[10]. The purpose of the interior can be different, and it is on this that its style and design depend. If we talk about rooms intended for living, then the main task of the space is to provide convenience and coziness. It is often the individual characteristics of a person that should be reflected in the design project of such an interior. Based on the preferences of the customer, the designer chooses one or another style of the project. However, the right choice of academic style in design will never be able to bring individuality, and more often it even comes down to uniformity. In addition, the embodiment of the style of such a project is limited by the choice of standard products, in particular: furniture, finishing materials, decor, textiles. This kind of depersonalization of space can be observed for many years. The fashion for coloristics, materials and styles is changing. All interiors are tailored to this peculiar fashion. The rooms become the same, not interesting and boring. The conducted research and observations have shown that it is the inclusion of works of author's decorative and applied art in such similar projects that can significantly enliven the interior and give it individuality.  Such handmade work of the master, as a rule, created in a single copy, makes the interior unique and inimitable. The symbiosis of academically correctly created interior design with the subject of author's art is an innovative direction of modern art. For example, to give an individual author's uniqueness to the design of the premises of the most ordinary typical kindergarten or children's department of the clinic, author's paintings on the walls, frescoes, decorative panels are used. Only a practicing artist will be able to choose the style, colors, sizes. It is almost impossible to design such a project using industrially created paintings and other interior items.

The main feature of decorative and applied art, unlike easel, mass types (painting, graphics, sculpture), is the organic connection of his works with the surrounding subject-spatial environment, the needs of ordinary people's lives in the ordinary living environment of a residential space, and not the contemplation of beauty in museums ^[3].

There are many varieties of decorative and applied art based on the use of various techniques, techniques, materials and techniques, many of which have been polished for centuries in folk and professional art. So, in the processing of stone, wood, bone, carving is used: stone carving, bone carving, wood carving. In working with fabrics: weaving, knitting, sewing, patchwork, carpet weaving, lace, applique, batik and much more. In glassmaking: blowing, grinding, engraving, painting. In metal: hammering, stamping, engraving, forging ^[4,5]. However, due to the various features of the art space, not all forms of existence of objects of decorative and applied art are suitable for use in interior design. The proposed concept of a thing in the interior implies the existence of a thing or an object of decorative and applied art in interior design in only a few forms.

An art object is an author's piece of decorative and applied art, as a form of interior decoration. An art object is a work of art designed for a person's emotional reaction. It may have a monumental structure and be oversized, not suitable for integration into the interior. Three-dimensional art objects of small shapes, small plastic, small-sized sculpture, wall decorative panels and other works of decorative and applied art, as well as formal things made in various techniques and materials that convey the creative idea of the artist are suitable for use in interior design ^[6]. The processes and technologies of active renewal of the oldest types of arts and crafts have a significant impact on the formation of modern art objects. Today, artistic processing of metals and wood, painting, and enamel art are widely used ^[11]. However, it should be noted that the inclusion of original works of decorative and applied art in the interior design is not as simple as it might seem. An ill–considered choice of an art object will not give the desired result.  The work, first of all, must correspond to the purpose of the room, its color, style, furniture and lighting. The choice of an object and its manufacture is often made after the formation of the main direction of the interior design project. In addition, if residential premises are considered as an example, then it is impossible not to take into account the hobbies, interests and even professions of the people for whom they are intended. For example, for the interior design of a children's room, a handmade art object was made that reminds a teenager of a character from a favorite movie. (Figure 1)

Figure 1. Mikhailenko A.Y. Decorative wall panel "I'm back". 2022

We live in an age of rapid development of neural networks and innovative technologies. Approaches to solving and modeling various design tasks are changing rapidly. However, each person sees finishing materials in interior design in their own way, which is explained by different subject views and approaches to the spatial environment. The idea of the qualities of space is formed in humans not only through visual interaction with it, but also with the participation of all other receptors of the body ^[12,14]. Since a person perceives objects of the surrounding world not only visually, but also tactilely, the texture and naturalness of the material are of key importance in the product.  Thoughtful synthesis of materials is not contradictory in the perception of objects. To enhance the artistic and imaginative concept of an art object, it is necessary to combine not only rationality and beauty, but also materials. The most interesting products are those that combine smooth and rough, shiny and matte texture, which help to reveal the characteristic features and properties of the material ^[7].

Such a stylistic direction in interior design as ecological design is rapidly developing in the XXI century. It is primarily characterized by the use of natural materials, rational consumption of resources, safe disposal of waste and the competent use of recycled materials in modern design. Eco-design encourages the authors to recreate the natural environment in residential and public spaces, bars, restaurants, shopping malls. ^[13]. The thing in the interior is, first of all, the concept of creating and integrating an art object into the interior. A distinctive feature of this approach is the naturalness of the materials used in the manufacture of embedded items. The process of creating an object of decorative and applied art is based on the use of a material such as wood. Natural wood is widely used in decorative and applied art. It attracts primarily by its environmental friendliness, which corresponds to modern trends. Its versatility, ease of processing and painting make it indispensable. Firing, brushing, tinting, carving, varnishing, patching and painting with hundreds of different compositions allows this material to be used in various fields of decorative and applied art. Considering this, an art object made of wood can be fitted into any interior, precisely emphasizing the style of the room.

Also, the most significant shaped object for integration into the interior is furniture. There are purely functional types of furniture that serve people for their intended purpose and are not distinguished by a deep creative idea. At the same time, for use in interior design, it is necessary to consider not only the functionality of furniture as a household item, but also as an aesthetic decoration of a residential or public space ^[15].

From the point of view of the concept of things in the interior, furniture is considered as an author's work of decorative and applied art. Initially, furniture by its nature refers to objects created manually, without the use of mass production technologies. It is decorated with wood carvings, inlays and paintings. Soft and easy-to-process wood is used as the material, which allows organically applying the entire arsenal of decorative means, popular at that time: floral and geometric motifs, ornamental patterns, acanthus leaves and others. Russian furniture is a collective designation of furniture products produced in Russia from the beginning of the XVI century to the present. In the history of art, Russian furniture of this period is considered as one of the historical and regional varieties of decorative and applied art. For centuries, Russian carpenters have been making chests, benches, stools, small cabinets and chairs traditional for peasant crafts. At the end of the XVII century, "German and Polish tables" with carvings and paintings on black, gold and silver backgrounds appeared at the Moscow court of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Moreover, the painting was done by Russian masters.  Since the 1660s, foreign craftsmen have been working in the workshops of the Armory in Moscow, who manually made expensive furniture using veneering, intarsion and ornamental carving techniques. Their staff included a number of masters of decorative and applied arts, among whom was an ornamentalist draughtsman and a woodcarver ^[8,9]. Furniture made according to the canons of decorative and applied art is still easy to identify today thanks to traditional techniques. As before, it is made mainly of wood and will perfectly fit into the interiors of apartments and houses of people who prefer the environmental friendliness of natural materials that reflect the restrained beauty of the surrounding world. Modern furniture made in the techniques of decorative and applied arts (Figure 2) demonstrates not only the reliance on tradition, but also innovative solutions in working with materials such as wood, helps to enliven the static interior of the room and is an important stylistic accent.

Figure 2. Mikhailenko A.Y. Mounted decorative shelf "Sosnovy Bor". 2019

In the work "Clothes hanger made of forged nails", as part of the design project "House forest view", materials such as metal and wood are organically combined. (Figure 3)

Figure 3. Mikhailenko A.Yu. A hanger made of forged nails "Smoke of a steam locomotive". 2021

The most important part in interior design is the light. "Today, light is a tool for shaping and modeling space in fine art, architecture and design at the level of experimental and real design" ^[16]. The right choice of light creates an atmosphere, emphasizes the space, reveals it. Lighting plays an important role in the design of a room, as it determines the impression of interior design that develops when entering a room, as well as the mood and well-being of a person when they are in it. But just the aesthetic freedom of the interior is expressed in spectacular, functional and creative lamps and chandeliers full of innovations and creative design that will help to decorate a stylish interior. However, the modern mass market is unable to offer the buyer a decent range of such goods.  Lighting devices produced by mass production are limited in aesthetic form and content. Innovative styles in interior design require more interesting design solutions in lighting, and the integration of lighting devices made in decorative and applied art techniques into the interior is more appropriate than ever. After all, among other things, a designer lamp is a worthy investment in the interior. You can always feel the handmade work of the master of decorative and applied arts in the author's work created by him. (Figure 4) Adding a sometimes unexpected and fascinating accent to the design of an academic interior of a certain style is a sure way to create a unique, individual atmosphere in the room.

Figure 4. Mikhailenko A.Y. Wooden rope chandelier "Point-Nest X". 2020

All the listed objects characteristic of the concept of decorative and applied art in the interior, such as: an art object, furniture, lighting device are the main subjects of the concept of integrating copyrighted works into interior design. However, it is not always appropriate to add an art object to the interior as a material object. It is often more appropriate to use the very technique of making decorative and applied art objects in the interior. Sometimes design surveys require the conversion of standard items. For example, an artist can paint a picture on canvas, or maybe on an old refrigerator, transforming it into an object of art, which will also play not only a functional, but an aesthetic role in the design of this interior. The wood carving technique can be applied to any existing wooden object, whether it is furniture, door frames, baseboards and even walls of a room decorated with wooden panels.

For each project, the ratio between visual design and design is distributed depending on the tasks and preferences of the customer. When designing according to the concept of integrating the subject of decorative and applied art into the interior, three main formats for the introduction of creative works should be guided: the creation of both the interior and objects of decorative and applied art simultaneously within the stylistic solutions of a specific design project; the creation of an interior around objects of decorative and applied art; the creation of art objects in order to integrate them into an already embodied design.

In the first case, there is an almost complete fusion of creativity and design. It is not difficult for a designer to organize a symbiosis of decorative and applied art and interior design, to erase the lines between them.  The walls, ceiling and floor become blank canvases. The designer is writing the interior! This approach is extremely rare, but it gives the project executor maximum freedom.

The second way to integrate art into interiors is to build compositions around original works and art objects. In this case, the designer creates a project based on specific elements of the customer's collection. The fundamental purpose of this approach is to emphasize the importance of the subject, to focus attention on it. At the same time, the interior should not distract attention from the work or be in conflict with it.

The third way to integrate decorative art into the interior is to give stylistics to a ready-made room by introducing specially created objects of decorative and applied art into the interior. This method is currently the most popular among clients of design bureaus. In this case, the designer can set the necessary atmosphere for the space, using only a few art objects. But those that visually enrich the space and set the right dynamics, based on the character of the future owner and the style in which the project is being created.

If we talk about the formation of one's own style, then, first of all, it should be understood that the interior cannot be completely author's. As a rule, the project is based on an academic artistic style or a mixture of styles from the past or present. But individual solutions and ways of their implementation, which the designer comes up with himself, just form the author's and recognizable component of interior design. So, in a certain way, an author's art object of decorative and applied art created and integrated into the interior design allows you to form a certain concept of a thing in the interior, a philosophy or even your own unique and recognizable author's style. The integration of handmade objects into the interiors and spaces of residential and commercial premises contributes to the development of the design industry and art in general. After all, by showing a drop of ingenuity, even an amateur designer will be able to create a unique project and enhance the artistic quality of the space.