THE NEW MODERNISTS: AN LDG EXHIBITION AT VIADUCT, CLERKENWELL

Max — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:09:03 +0000

This exhibition is a physical manifestation of The New Modernists – one of the five groups that make up the ‘Design Tribes’ editorial feature within LONDON DESIGN GUIDE.

THE NEW MODERNISTS

17th-26th September 2009

Viaduct, 1-10 Summer’s Street, London EC1R 5BD (020 7278 8456)

A LONDON DESIGN GUIDE exhibition in collaboration with Viaduct. This is an extract from the Design Tribes chapter of LDG:

“Year after year, designers vie for the attentions of manufacturers in the hope that their new design proposal will come up trumps against the rest. Mass production still represents the holy grail of success. Yet amid a sea of competition and marketing noise, it becomes rather easy to miss the designs that are most likely to sustain the industry on a commercial level. Provocative, entertaining and sensationalist design – a tiny but loud segment of the market – has tended to overshadow the more pragmatic work of hardworking designers.

That said, there is still a pulse in the area of commercial production that concerns itself with subtle – as opposed to seismic – improvements and advancements in our everyday material landscape. Refined, pure and formalist. Classic and timeless in visual language. Pragmatic in functionality, sometimes with a smattering of irony. This is the work of the New Modernists.”

Taking the concept of The New Modernists, Viaduct is celebrating their 20th birthday with an exhibition that celebrates everything that Viaduct stands for: timelessness, quality, refined aesthetics and an ability to spot enduring talent.

Viaduct will be showing the diverse designs of Maarten Van Severen, Bertjan Pot, Studio Job, Stefan Diez, Arik Levy, Jasper Morrison, Simon Pengelly and introducing British design dynamo Benjamin Hubert. Viaduct will show exciting and eclectic work from some of the most influential names in modern furniture design – the show is more about the future but does give a quick reverential nod to its twenty years in business. The New Modernists manufacturers include, amongst others, Cappellini, e15, Montis, Pastoe and Zeus.

Entry: free

THE REVIVALISTS: AN LDG EXHIBITION AT CAA, FITZROVIA

Max — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:47:11 +0000

This exhibition is a physical manifestation of The Revivalists – one of the five groups that make up the ‘Design Tribes’ editorial feature within LONDON DESIGN GUIDE.

THE REVIVALISTS

28th August – 3rd October 2009

Contemporary Applied Arts, 2 Percy Street, London W1T 1DD (020 7436 2344)

A LONDON DESIGN GUIDE launch exhibition at Contemporary Applied Arts, curated by editor Max Fraser. This is an extract from the Design Tribes chapter of LDG:

“A designers professional existence relies on introducing new things. But may creatives struggles with the notion of constant newness or the sterility of mass-production. Still others mourn the loss of traditional craftsmanship. The homogenous ‘catalogue’ look – devoid of personality or individuality – is the last thing on the minds of many designers seeking to connect more emotionally to the consumer, often with nostalgic references to yesteryear.

Indeed, a new wave is reassessing the traditional role of the designer. They strive to reappropriate the forgotten or overlooked; reinvigorate a genre from an earlier era; refresh a style, material, technique or approach that is no longer in vogue; or reference heritage and provenance. With honesty and authenticity as their core principles, these designers are the Revivalists.”

Designers featured in this exhibition:

David Clarke