A few years ago, engineers envisioned an aircraft with joined wings, known as the "joined wing." The prototypes promised greater efficiency, speed, and aerodynamic superiority. However, despite the success of initial tests, the project never moved beyond prototypes. The reason? Technical complexities and the need to justify its existence to the public and investors ultimately made it unfeasible.
This concept resonates deeply with the state of contemporary art. Much like this innovative aircraft, modern art seems stripped of emotion, meaning, or intention. It is said that the process or concept is what matters. Yet ironically, contemporary art constantly seeks justification, as if it needs a reason to exist, trying to fill the void society has imposed.
Meanwhile, designers are stepping up as the new creatives. They combine function and form, blending beauty and efficiency. In many cases, design is emerging as the new art, focused on beautifying what is useful without the need for elaborate explanations.
We live in a society that has emptied itself of meaning, where minimalism and extravagance coexist, reflecting a lack of collective identity. Perhaps it is the fear of exposing one's true self in a society devoid of personality, where art continues to justify itself, searching for a purpose that was once intrinsic to its essence.