HISTORY AND OBJECTIVES

Transcription

1 HISTORY AND OBJECTIVES Designmuseum Danmark is one of Scandinavia s central exhibition forums for Danish and international industrial design, decorative and applied arts. The museum s collections, library and archives constitute a central resource centre for the study of design and its history in Denmark. The museum brings together and documents the contemporary developments within industrial design, decorative and applied arts. We must add to this the collection of exemplary works from older areas and periods, which are closely related to contemporary oeuvres. Designmuseum Danmark undertakes research into the history of art and design, taking as its point of departure the museum s own collections, and presents the results in exhibitions, publications and educational material etc. Designmuseum Danmark (originally named The Danish Museum of Decorative Arts) was founded in 1890 by the Industriforeningen i København (now Dansk Industri The Confederation of Danish Industries) and the Ny Carlsberg Museumslegat. The museum garden, The Grønnegård, is a public space and can be enjoyed by everyone during museum opening hours. In the summer it serves as the performance space for the Grønnegård Theatre s productions for children and adults. The museum café also have outdoor serving during the summer.

2 STANDING EXHIBITIONS Designmuseum Danmark disseminates central lines of development within the history of design. In the new exhibition of 20th century Danish applied arts and industrial design, the history of Danish design is seen in the light of the period s aesthetic discussions and social, technical and economic conditions. Around such central figures as Poul Henningsen, Kaare Klint and Arne Jacobsen, design and architecture are brought together in the museum s interpretation of the century s dreams and reality. The historical collections of European and Asiatic applied arts and decorative arts include major works within Chinese ceramics, French and German porcelain industries of the 18th century, and English and French furniture. In the informative displays, emphasis is put on the significance of these collections for developments in Denmark.

3 UTOPIAS AND REALITY Applied Arts and Design of the 20 th Century The point of departure for the permanent exhibition comprises several of the dominant ideas and thoughts utopias which have been significant for mankind and society in the 20th century and are recognisable in design. This is the approach of the exhibition as regards such aspects as the early 20th century avant-garde design dream of a new and better world; functionalism s FDB furniture seen as a social tool, and the 1990s globalisation and visions of ecology and recycling. Represented in one large room is the story of speed and slowness and the aesthetics of what is made by hand and by machine in design throughout the entire 20th century. Other rooms are dedicated to great Danish designers such as Kaare Klint, Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen and Verner Panton. The exhibition s many classics of Danish design are displayed in an international perspective by juxtaposition with design icons from other countries. The changing design tendencies are elucidated in context with developments in architecture and interior decoration.

4 ACROSS ALL FRONTIERS Arts and Crafts from The world exhibitions in the second half of the 19th century became the international scene for the new style Art Nouveau which found its most vigorous expression in the applied arts. Throughout Europe museums were opened whose collections were intended to serve as models for the commercial enterprises producing decorative art, and thus stem the tide of industrialisation s mass production of objects devoid of quality. Designmuseum Danmark was founded in 1890 and commenced serious collecting activity at a point when Danish applied arts achieved a major breakthrough. A group of Danish artists participated in the world exhibitions with considerable success and made Danish applied arts internationally prominent for the first time. In many cases these artists were the children of leading artists of the Danish Golden Age. On display in the exhibition of Designmuseum Danmark is some of the museum s purchase of modern foreign applied art acquired at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, together with contemporary Danish applied art from 1880 and into the 20th century, of which the central figure was Thorvald Bindesbøll. The inspiration from Japanese and French applied art is emphasised in the exhibition by examples from the museum s rich collections such as the ceramics of Paul Gauguin. Also on display is furniture by Lorenz Frølich, J.F. Willumsen s Family Vase, Carl Larsson s large tapestry Crayfishing, glass by Gallé and Tiffany, work by the great designers of posters and much more.

5 PRESS CONTACT For further information and high resolution press photos please contact: Head of communications, Nikolina Olsen-Rule Tel: Visit the museum s online press room at: ADDRESS & CONTACT Designmuseum Danmark Bredgade 68 / 1260 København K Phone info@designmuseum.dk Opening hours and closed days Tuesday Sunday, 11 am 5 pm Monday closed Closed: 1 January, 12 May, (Whit Monday), 24, 25 and 31 December