Exhibitions 2011
13 March > 13 June 2011Fantasy Design
“Fantasy Design in Community” is an international design education project involving children and youths from four European countries - Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Spain. They are rising to the challenge of giving shape to a piece of their own living environment. For each part of the project, the children and youths cooperate with professional designers. The results of this project as well as the design processes will be featured in a playfully designed exhibition.
26 March > 13 June 2011L’Objet Sublime
French ceramics 1875-1945
With about 300 exquisite pieces originating from a never before exhibited private collection, this exhibit showcases the history of French ceramic art from a fascinating time period: from the onset of Japonism, via art nouveau and art deco, to their various reactions. The emphasis is on key figures such as Chaplet, Carriès, Delaherche, Lenoble and Decœur, but at the same time many other artists will be featured, each with high-quality and representative work.
Until around the year 1900 French ceramics set the tone internationally: the creativity and quality were exceptional. Subsequently, it is mainly with the ceramicists that art deco was born in France even before 1910.
The desire for a timeless beauty and the quest for unique and magnificent materials only grew in the following decades, until others decided to distance themselves from an aestheticism which had become elitist and decadent.
9 July > 16 October 2011 Esprit Porcelaine
Contemporary porcelain from Limoges
In 1768 excavatable deposits were found in the vicinity of Limoges which were suited for porcelain production. As soon as production was started, the renown of Limoges porcelain developed in such a way that the name of the city has become synonymous with porcelain.
1984 saw the creation of "Esprit Porcelaine": a think tank, a pool of creative ceramicists. For 25 years designers, craftsmen, artists and sculptors have worked in highly diverse ways and approached the art of fire in different manners. The collective sets out to stimulate the relationship between the artists and the porcelain industry of Limoges, as well as to create innovative products and therefore usher in a revival of "Les arts de la table".
The objects illustrate the technical skills required to achieve elevated levels of quality; particularly whenever porcelain is combined with other materials.
In collaboration with “Esprit Porcelaine” from Limoges
9 July > 16 October 2011 Die Essenz der Dinge
Design and the Art of Reduction
In these times of crisis, are we going to cut back on materials and go for products with a longer life expectancy? Or is modern design by nature equal to efficiency?
The exhibition "The art of reduction" is returning to the basics. Or rather: to the kind of design that illustrates the "art of reduction". After all, simplification is not only a governing principle in the history of the design world, but during practically any rocky economic period it has always come to the fore with a vengeance.
The exhibition is looking for the explanation behind the rational design logic in aspects such as the production process, spatial limitations or aesthetic trends.
Design icons from le Corbusier and Gerrit Rietveld to Eero Saarinen are set against similar figures from, for instance, the worlds of fashion, food design and art.
An exhibition by Vitra Design Museum Weil am Rhein
9 July > 16 October 2011Johanna Dahm
Rings
The Swiss-born Johanna Dahm active since the 1970s, has continually pursued new ways of defining what jewellery can be. Her work is characterized by an investigative and open approach, which has led her everywhere from quests for the integration of fabric and brooch, exploring light reflections on the body, to researching exotic jewellery techniques.
Her work has explored many key practical and conceptual themes in jewellery. Dahm’s work is of the highest standard, and her intellectual understanding of both technique and creative process is one which she is able to articulate eloquently.
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19 November 2011 > 26 February 2012Kaj Franck
Finnish design icon
This year it is exactly 150 years ago that Kaj Franck was born. A perfect occasion to set up a retrospective exhibition of his work; Kaj Franck was one of the founders of the trend-setting, modern Finnish design. He is described as the “conscience” of Finnish design. His designs are pure forms. What is left are the bare essentials.
Kaj Franck was granted several national and international design awards. His most well-known designs are the “Kilta” crockery and the “Kartio” series of glassware.
The exhibition is set up in collaboration with the Designmuseo Helsinki and sheds light on various aspects of this designer’s work.
19 November 2011 > 26 February 2012Coca-Cola: 125 years of design
True to its mission the Design museum Gent tells the design story of this brand. The impressive Coca-Cola archives from Atlanta (USA) serve as a source of information.
The story of the famous soft drink is told by making use of photographs, advertisements, bottles, cans, posters, advertising campaigns, glasses and drafts and drawings.
A time line showing the brand's 125 years' history, the evolution of the bottle's design, a couple of remarkable advertising campaigns and the story of the Spencer script is presented.
The details of exhibitions of the past years are available at the
exhibitions archive.
