COMBINING AESTHETICS WITH FUNCTIONALISM THE PRODUCTION OF ART FURNITURE

Abstract

This study is on the production of furniture, using sculptural production methods. The furniture will serve as pieces of sculpture for house decorations as well as other utilitarian purposes. This artistic ideology does not only relate to the traditional African Mission of design but will go a long way towards the promotion of contemporary Nigerian art which has always had a poor patronage because most people consider them to be expensive luxury. The study is both literary and studio – based. Information for the literary aspect of the project was gathered through both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are mainly oral sources such as, interviews and group discussions while secondary sources are written materials. The researcher also made sketches of intended projects and produced different designs of furniture using sculptural techniques and approach. Appropriate Uli linear motifs were also inscribed on the surfaces of the furniture as part of decoration. It was observed that Nigerian Contemporary artists can sell their indigenous art motifs globally and one way of doing it is by introducing them to functional designs such as was done in this project. This study calls for more researches that will focus on merging aesthetics and function.