schön schräg. Cubism – a Czech design principle

About

The Berlin exhibition organisers Wolfgang Binder and Bettina Güldner were invited to present their views on particular design traits that as such cannot be found in the rest of Europe. With an eye to the approximately 50 design objects that they discovered and collected on their trips to Prague, a formal spectrum of polygonal forms, angularity, folds or acute angles of distinct sculptural quality finds expression. According to the exhibition organisers, these characteristics are so compelling and show themselves on such a continuous basis that it makes sense not to relate the causes and roots to Cubism alone, but to find them in broader artistic-creative methods.

The objects on display, including loans from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, reveal a profound understanding of design created from geometry. The foundations for this seem to have already been laid down in Prague’s scientific-philosophic teachings starting in the 16th century and remaining popular in art lessons with general educational value up to the present day. Against this background, elegance and dynamic presence, functionality and constructive sophistication of many everyday objects and graphic designs emerge as unmistakable Czech/Slovak phenomena in design. In an international design scene, which often gives rise to almost interchangeable results, young designers from both countries can assert themselves with notable independence and distinctiveness.

Two rounds of talks and a workshop with design students in Prague accompanying the exhibition in January and February 2019 provide the opportunity for designers/experts and the interested public from Prague and Berlin to share thoughts.

A publication will be issued for the exhibition.

A pop-up store by Modernista with the best design pieces of the last 100 years from the Czech Republic is due to complement the exhibition. In cooperation with the Prague Museum of Decorative Arts (UPM), Modernista has relaunched several “classic” editions: cubistic ceramics by Pavel Janák, Rudolf Stockar and Vlastislav Hofman, furniture and home accessories in accordance to the designs of Josef Gočár or Jindřich Halabala, Ladilav Sutnar’s wooden toys and many other unique products. Modernista also collects and restores valuable original furniture, lamps and everyday objects and also offers other design products that have been tried and tested over the years.

An exhibition in cooperation with the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague and Modernista with loan items from the companies Rückl, ton, Tescoma and Modernista as well as the Slovak Design Museum. The event is supported by the German-Czech Fund of Future.