Tate | Young Tate: Exam Help: Decoration

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Decoration

Figures in an interior

From busy patterns of wallpaper or fabrics layered together, to shapes created by light and shadow: the theme of figures in an interior has been explored by many artists who have enjoyed its decorative possibilities.

Impressionistic interiors by artists such as Spencer Gore use mark making and texture to suggest the intricate patterns of different surfaces. Others have instead simplified and stylized furnishings, objects and people to create images made up of bold flat decorative shapes.

Town or cityscape

Domed grand palaces; rows of terraced houses with ornate ironwork; the tessellated patterns of rooftops; bright lights and neon signs: the decorative qualities of towns and cityscapes have been explored by artists in very different ways.

Some have been inspired by elegant architectural features. Others have abstracted and made patterns of the shapes of buildings and streets. Artist Catherine Yass has used a city’s lights at night to create decorative images of contemporary cities. While Jacques Mahé de la Villeglé focuses in on surfaces found in a city, highlighting the surprisingly decorative qualities of ripped billboard posters.

A group of objects

The shapes, colours and patterns of objects: the shadows they make, and the spaces around them, have inspired many artists. The selection of works below show just how different approaches can be.

Some artists such as Mary Feddon and Patrick Heron have used traditional still-lifes of vases, flowers and fruit as the starting point for decorative compositions.

Pop artists Andy Warhol and Eduardo Paolozzi were inspired by the bright colours and labelling of product packaging in their works.

While Damien Hirst has used the arrangement of objects and a bright background to create a highly decorative picture of rocks and minerals.