Function, Beauty and Aesthetics

The question of the usefulness of any relationship between function and beauty has been with us since the beginning of times. Originally, Plato equated beauty to truth, while he saw art as imitating nature (and the truth). In contrast, Aristotle proposed the aesthetic view of beauty as the integral part of artistic creation.

I belong to the philosophy that the raison d’être of art is to pursue and find beauty. And, if it cannot be found, to create it. I believe it is our comfort with aesthetics that links art and beauty.

Ok, all that is perhaps vague and academic. So, I wanted to show how I explain the association between function/functionality and our pursuit of beauty.

A.    Door Stops: I find the wedge shaped plastic pieces as the most hideous, yet of course functional constructs. Once I saw one of these used in the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, and I was about to cry!

There are so many ways one can stop a door from slamming in the wind. For me, whatever is used has to reflect the ambient architecture, setting or inhabitant’s character. For example, this fictitious bird (was I imitating nature as Plato proposed?) I made of wood, quail feathers and rocks would stop any door from slamming and, in the process, be a conversation piece.

Here are equally functional door stops next to each other. What varies is the concept of beauty or at least its artistic pursuit.

B.     Walking Sticks: Again, these are most common assistants to hikers, the injured or the elderly. In the case of walking sticks or canes, there is a strong established relationship between art, beauty and function. Canes are carved, inlayed with precious metals and stones, and even weaponized by hiding sword blades in them. A walking stick is also a symbol of identity, power and wealth.

Here is a Sheppard’s walking stick I bought in Ireland – it is simple but perfectly symbolic of an agrarian culture.

And here is the rather unattractive, yet very functional, hiking stick millions of people use around the world:

So, a friend of mine was using a bare stick on a hike when I told him that I could make it look much better if he allows me to try.

“It is a walking stick not a piece of art” he exclaimed.

And that is what I wanted to tackle.

So, I used the hide and head of a hare to “dress it up.”

When I sent him a photo of it he said “Please, no rabbit head!”

And here is the final product:

A few days later he told me that when he took that walking stick on a group hike, everyone wanted to know where they can get one made…

So, functionality exists by and in itself. But I believe that we as humans do take pleasure observing function display beauty as well. But there is cultural relativism – consider tattoos, hair colouring, and body piercing. Darwin and Freud realized this and suggested that the function of beauty is universal but the ways by which beauty manifests itself is variably interpreted across cultures.

Fair enough.

June 6, 2018

© Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2018