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Pictures shared by the Concepttalk Instagram account probably cannot be put under one category, except with the help of the account’s description of having something interesting and unexpected about them.

This first and foremost leads to things revealing their unexpected side by playful presentation brought to the viewer’s attention. Something to be experienced and enjoyed!

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    The account Concepttalk has 370K followers on Instagram and despite its short description, the link provided to the website of a curator leads us to one possible clue to a certain theme, which could be applied at least to some part of the pictures from Concepttalk. While the former is meant for “retro lovers”, the latter has a lot to do with it as well.

    According to the study Retro - The Culture of Revival, by Elizabeth E. Guffey, retro is a movement which beginning gets associated with the rehabilitation of works by Beardsley, and the movement of Art Nouveau in general. Even though revivals or enhanced interest in a specific historic period did happen in the past, according to the author, this movement was different.

    #3

    Plastic Chair In Wood, By Maarten Baas

    Plastic Chair In Wood, By Maarten Baas

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    #4

    DIY, Vintage TV Cat Beds

    DIY, Vintage TV Cat Beds

    concepttalk Report

    Based on interpretation by Guffey, the revival of art and design of the late nineteenth century suggests a unique tendency - a “popular thirst for the recovery of earlier, and yet still modern.”

    The author suggests that the most potent connotation of 'retro' that tends to be overlooked is its fundamental shift in the popular relationship with the past. When it comes to its object, it focuses on the recent past, rather than the Middle Ages or Antiquity.

    When it comes to its attitude or the way of looking at this recent past, the author describes it as half-ironic, half-longing, detached, and “attempting to come to terms with Modernity’s ideas, as well as its boundaries and even its mortality.”

    However, Guffey warns against dismissing the appeal of these tendencies as simply looking backwards or merely a series of stylistic gestures and suggests that it is better understood as a kind of subversion of “looking backwards in order to go forwards.”

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    While playfulness and the lighthearted wit of the pictures also bring Postmodernism and a fun rewording of “Less is more” to “Less is bore” by Robert Venturi to mind.

    The movement from 1970 to 1990, was known for shattering established ideas about design and art and its style associated with a mix of various seemingly opposing elements that make it “visually thrilling, multifaceted" and defying definition.

    According to the study by V&A, such irreverence, which is meant to criticize purely functional design or simply to cheer up the viewers with some lighthearted wit, is among the movement’s main characteristics.

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    Many designers of the things from the pictures shared by Concepttalk seem to have figured out one recipe for escaping the routine of a purely functional take on things and processes to use them for a different purpose than they were created for or expected to be used by many.

    Also, they add elements that have no function at all except for exaggerating and embodying the remote associations with certain daily objects in a dream-like or somewhat fun way, possibly surprising the creators themselves as their perception gets caught up in this sort of play.

    So now, please feel free to participate by scrolling the list and sharing your thoughts in the comments!

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    #15

    Early 80s Phone Typography

    Early 80s Phone Typography

    concepttalk Report

    #18

    "It Would Be Fun To Listen To The Product Designer Of This… Multi Gadget."

    "It Would Be Fun To Listen To The Product Designer Of This… Multi Gadget."

    concepttalk Report

    #19

    Rug Rover Interior, By Kingkennedyrugs

    Rug Rover Interior, By Kingkennedyrugs

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    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No entirely to my taste, but someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to fit this, and done a good job too. Kudos for that.

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    #26

    Sunglasses

    Sunglasses

    concepttalk Report

    #27

    Watching

    Watching

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    POST
    Amy
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I read that in the voice of Ros from Monsters Inc. “watching. Always watching Wozawski!”.

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    #30

    Harold Lloyd's Iconic Christmas Tree

    Harold Lloyd's Iconic Christmas Tree

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    #35

    1750s. Design vs. Functionality. Baroque Pulpit. Dobroszów🇵🇱

    1750s. Design vs. Functionality. Baroque Pulpit. Dobroszów🇵🇱

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    #37

    Handscapes, By Kai Wasikowski

    Handscapes, By Kai Wasikowski

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    #40

    Keyboot

    Keyboot

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    Note: this post originally had 45 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.