WARES THAT APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 147, 19 December 1933, Page 22

WARES THAT APPEAL

IMPOETANCE OF DESIGN

ART IN INDUSTRY

A COMING EXHIBITION

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, November 0. The Prince of Wales was.present at a dinner of the Royal Society of Arts in connection with tho Koyal Academy Exhibition of British Art in Industry to be held in 1935, and spoko of the place of art in industry. "Tho artistic touch in the production of industrial wares," he said, "exercises a wider appeal than is often realised. "By artistic touch I do not mean that manufactured ware should necessarily bear tho mark of the master's hand — he who has won fame and high diplomas. What I mean is the practical adaptation of tho ideas and designs of our artists as to how modern manufacture and machinery can best influence and please tho consumer as to taste, convenience, and attractiveness. "I am very proud of having boen called 'Britain's Commercial Traveller." I have travelled for Great Britain and I regret to say I have not always come back with good news. "I have seen the demand that foreign countries have created iv design, practicability, and price, to suit special markets. Wo have in this country too often relied on the old prewar slogan, 'It is British and it is good enough for you.' MANUFACTURER'S OPPORTUNITY. "I entirely advocate this exhibition, and have beeomo the president of tho General Committee because I feel that it is a step in the right direction, and that it will give the manufacturer another opportunity of realising that the artist can. help him. "Somehow this note seems familiar to me. Could it be that speeches that I have made in the past on return from foreign journeys have helped towards a better recognition of how tho artist can help the manufacturer? "But if the artist is to be of any use to the present-day British manufacturer, competing more and more not with British but with foreign firms, tho artist must be alive and keep in touch with the cverchanging tastds and fashions in the world, which, because of different conditions, change more rapidly in other countries than, they do here, because we are an island and the oldest industrial country in the world. "I think that we are creating a wonderful opportunity for our young artists. They should go abroad and study the demand which this machine age has evolved in foreign countries as regards tastes, fashion, design, convenience, practicability, etc. Having studied these characteristics they should then settle down and produce ideas combining the best details that they have discovered abroad, that for want of a better term I will call a new British art in industry. . • BEAUTY FOR EVERYDAY USE. "In that way our artists will be doing a great servic to our manufacturers; but if I have said that they will from now onwards have a great responsibility, so will those who will be selected to be the judges of tho artists' work sent up to the exhibition have a great responsibility. "May I appeal to all maunfacturers who realise how art can help them, to support the -exhibition wholeheartedly, and so ensure its success from their side.", (Cheers.)

Sir William Llewellyn, president of the Royal Academy, said the proposed exhibition was an endeavour to do something really effective for the good of the country. The societies working together believed good design might give a- stimulus to industry,' and that it was essential to introduce more 1 «auty into mass-produced, articles of modest price and everyday use. They believed that machine production, properly handled, was not opposed to art, and that if artists and makers would only work together articles and wares of all kinds could be produced in this country equal in quality and appearance to any that were made abroad.