Futurism: Science Fiction in art.

Fortunato Depero: New York, 1930.

Futurism not only existed as an artistic movement in the field of paintings. It was also a social and political manifestation of what artists (mainly painters) believed the future would look like in their societies. This movement originated in Italy in the early 20th century. It depicted themes that were, at that time, associated with futuristic motifs and imagery: industrial and technological landscapes, abstract representations of the speed in the city, the violence of the youth, etc.

Antonio Sant'Elia

 

 

 

He was one of the most important artists in the futurist movement. His work focused on architecture. Sant'Elia is so important in science fiction that his work inspired several artists that wanted to represent what the cities would look like in the future. His idea of future societies was so accurate that it highly resembles what we can imagine or see when reading a book or enjoying a sci-fi movie.

Here, for instance, we can see how one his drawings inspired the movie Blade Runner by sci-fi director Ridley Scott.

  

We can mainly compare the triangular structures of the buildings, the flying vehicles, and even the colors: warm red, orange and yellow along with cold, nocturnal, rusty black.

Can you find other resemblances?

_______________________________________________________