Estate Living Magazine #liveyourbestlife - Issue 46 December 2019 | Page 64

G O O D ART THAT’S L I F E SMART Why choose between buying something beautiful and buying something useful when you can do both at the same time? Designer and artist William Morris once wrote: ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.’ Functional art combines both these directives, giving you the best of both worlds. A sculpted vase. The handmade salad servers you bought on your last holiday. The teapot that was crafted by a potter on an artists’ meander. Items that not only add something special to your home, but that also do a fine job when put into service. That’s the essence of functional art, says Kate Shepherd, founding owner of design companies Something Different and Something Desired. ‘Functional art is created for purpose – perhaps not for everyday use, but certainly not simply to be admired. A hand-painted clock, a hand-woven or stitched cushion or large artistic lighting pieces all fit the bill,’ she explains. According to Artscape.com, ‘functional art is a genre that’s remarkably inclusive, encompassing everything from furniture to lighting and even books’. It’s not just about aesthetics – although these are important too – or even the emotional value that’s associated with high art, which is why many items that you may not typically consider art slot easily into this category. It’s a great addition to the home because it can serve as a feature or focal point of a room and pull the entire space together, Shepherd adds. ‘It can also create personality and show personal taste and flair, and is a super way to add textures and layers or colours or patterns.’ But, at the same time, functional art provides even more pleasure than other pieces, because you’re able to incorporate it into your daily routines. Rather than enjoying the visual aspect alone, you’re able to appreciate its tactility, too. Admit it – doesn’t coffee taste that much better when it’s sipped from a mug that was made by hand? How to make sure your functional art pieces fit your space as well as they fit your life? Start by researching the artist to make sure you agree with their beliefs, aesthetic and overall meaning, Shepherd advises – just as you would when purchasing any other piece of art.