World Art Nouveau Day (10/06)

June 10 is World Art Nouveau Day. The holiday was established in 2013 on the initiative of the Hungarian magazine Szecessziós Magazin and was held at the Museum of Applied Arts there, in Budapest.

This initiative was supported by the European movement Réseau Art Nouveau Network in Brussels (Belgium) and Art Nouveau European Route in Barcelona (Spain).

It was no coincidence that the organizers of the holiday chose June 10 as the date for its celebration. This date is symbolic as the day of remembrance of two departed great architects of the Art Nouveau era: Eden Lechner and Antonio Gaudi. By the way, Lechner was the architect of the same Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest, built at the end of the 19th century according to his design, where World Art Nouveau Day was held for the first time in 2013. The Day of Remembrance of these two wonderful architects became a symbol for the organizers of the holiday and served its main purpose – to preserve the memory of the cultural heritage of the Art Nouveau era.

A move away from interpretations of artistic styles from past historical eras, as well as an attempt to combine practical worldviews in the era of industrialism with symbolism and romanticism, led to the birth in the late 19th century of a new artistic style called «Modern».

It is worth mentioning that in different countries this style was called differently: Art Nouveau – in France, Jugendstil – in Germany, Modernismo – in Spain, Modern Style – in England, Session – in Austria-Hungary, Modern – in Russia, etc. The different sound of the style name essentially meant, with slight discrepancies, the basic essence of the – style is new, modern, young, separate or special. The main desire of modernity was the attempt to reconcile practicality and functionality with the aesthetic perception of the world, with nature and its beauty.

Working in this direction, many architects with interest and successfully introduced into practice the use of new building materials and technologies (steel, concrete), trying to move away from straight lines and angles, symmetry, giving preference to smooth bends, lines, and ornaments. The same features were inherent in the Art Nouveau era and the work of sculptors, painters, graphic artists, and jewelers.

Originating in Europe in 1999, the Reseau Art Nouveau movement brought together architects, art historians, cultural scientists, cultural and artistic figures, museum workers, and restorers to study the development of the Modern style, as well as the preservation of its heritage and memory.

The celebration of World Art Nouveau Day, as a rule, is thematic. Every year the events are dedicated to one or another element of architecture and sculpture, created according to the canons of the Art Nouveau style. Every year in most European countries for this purpose they hold photo competitions, exhibitions, excursions and seminars, publish books and work on documentaries, devoting them to a unique phenomenon in the history of culture and art – to the Modern style.

1915