Afrofuturism vs Art Deco

アフロフューチャリズム / アール・デコ

Afrofuturism comes from Visions of the Future and Art Deco from Historical Styles. One is aesthetic and the other style. They are reached for with some of the same intent, which is where they get confused.

Afrofuturism

Afrofuturism — サン・ラー 1973 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domainAfrofuturism — 『スペース・イズ・ザ・プレイス』ポスター 1974 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domainAfrofuturism — サン・ラー・アーケストラ（CC BY-SA 4.0）

Connects African diasporic history, culture and future, reclaiming stolen time and new possibility.

Art Deco

Art Deco — クライスラー・ビルの鷲のガーゴイル 1930 — Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0Art Deco — 1925年パリ万国装飾美術博覧会のポスター — Wikimedia Commons / Public domainArt Deco — Antoine Bourdelle による1925年装飾美術博のポスター — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Stages urban luxury with repeating geometry and a metallic sheen.

AfrofuturismArt Deco
Era20th century–1920s–1930s
FamilyVisions of the FutureHistorical Styles
KindAestheticStyle
CuesCosmic futures / Cultural pattern / Metal and earth / Myth reinterpretedSymmetry / Radiating lines / Stepped motifs / Gold and black
Best used forNarratives that speak past and future at once · Centering the viewpoint missing from received futuresGiving an event a sense of occasion · Producing instant classic luxury
TypePair geometric letterforms with culturally grounded faces, carefullyTall, narrow geometric display type
CompositionLead with the symbol; layer strata of timeCentered, symmetrical composition
MaterialDeep black, gold, vivid color; research where the materials come fromBlack, gold, ivory; repeated hairlines
CautionNever borrow patterns as anonymous 'African style.' Learn the specific makers, regions and histories.Too much ornament turns theme-park. Let white space carry the dignity.

Put these two together

Visions of the Future ／ Historical Styles

IndexStyle