News: Art Deco style, first seen at the 1925 Paris Exposition, reached Madras nearly a decade later, after arriving in India through Bombay with the Syndicate Bank building in 1932. Art Deco Style.
About Art Deco Style
- It emerged in Western Europe in the 1910s–1920s and flourished in the United States during the 1930s.
- The name is derived from the 1925 Paris Exposition – Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes.
- Art Deco blended modernism with luxury and glamour.
- It symbolized sophistication, wealth, and forward-looking aesthetics, moving away from traditional ornamentation.
- Key Characteristics:
- It emphasizes clean lines, geometric shapes, and streamlined forms.
- Rich use of both natural (ivory, jade, obsidian) and manufactured materials (chrome, Bakelite, ferroconcrete).
- Stylized ornamentation inspired by nature, classical motifs, and machine-age aesthetics.
- It features nude female figures, animals, foliage, and sunbursts, rendered in a stylized, abstract manner
Art Deco in Madras (Chennai)
- Art Deco was widely adopted in India by banks, insurance firms, cinema halls, film studios, and commercial establishments, symbolizing both modernity and evolving cultural identity.
- In 1932, Laxman Mahadeo Chitale marked the beginning of Art Deco architecture in the Madras.
- His notable projects include the Oriental Insurance Building on Armenian Street, the National Insurance Building (1938) on China Bazaar Road, and the Andhra Insurance Building (1939).
- The Art Deco style also extended to furniture, silverware, and typographic design, shaping the aesthetic of everyday life.
