
Nordic Design. The Response to the Bauhaus
24 October 2019 - 1 March 2020To conclude the year of the Bauhaus centennial, Bröhan-Museum will be holding the exhibition “Nordic Design. The Response to the Bauhaus”, looking at the reaction of the Nordic countries to German functionalism. The show presents the Scandinavian path to modernism, which involved an intense engagement with the ideas of the Bauhaus. Beginning with the Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto, then moving on to the founder of Swedish functionalism Sven Markelius and the internationally celebrated Danish designers Hans J. Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, the exhibition’s emphasis will be placed on the 1950s and 1960s. Beside developments specific to each country, childhood, democratic design, and “hygge,” themes common to all four countries, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, will also be present. The exhibition will conclude with futuristic designs by Verner Panton, Eero Aarnio, and Marimekko that marked the final break of the Nordic countries with functionalism.
Curator: Dr. Tobias Hoffmann
Exhibition design: Katleen Arthen
Advertising motif: Gerwin Schmidt, Munich
Arne Jacobsen, Serie 7 Stuhl 3107, 1955, Privatbesitz, Foto: Martin Adam, Berlin © Arne Jacobsen Design I/S, Fritz Hansen Kaj Franck / Nuutajärvi glassworks, Vasen „Seifenblase“, 1952, Privatsammlung, Foto: Iiro Muttilainen © Kaj Franck Kay Bojesen / Rosendahl Design Group A/S, Affe, Entwurf 1951 © Kay Bojesen Danmark Björn Weckström / Ausführung Lapponia, Ring Petrified Lake, 1971, Jahr der Ausführung unbekannt, Privatbesitz Berlin, Foto: Martin Adam, Berlin © Björn Weckström / Lapponia Jewelry Helsinki Alvar Aalto / O.Y. Huonekalu-ja, Rakennustyötehdas A.B., Armlehnstuhl Modell 41 „Paimio“, 1932, Privatsammlung, Foto: Iiro Muttilainen © Alvar Aalto Foundation Verner Panton / J. Lüber, Kugelleuchte Typ G, Rottöne, Entwurf um 1969, Sammlung Barß, Berlin, Foto: Martin Adam, Berlin Josef Frank / Svenskt Tenn, Kabinettschrank, 1937, Jackson Design AB, Stockholm © Svenskt Tenn Stockholm, Foto: Jackson Design AB Eero Aarnio, Spielgerät Pony, 1970, Neue Ausführung © Eero Aarnio Originals