These questions will be explored by the exhibition Beauty & Pragmatism | Pragmatism & Beauty, presented at the Triennale di Milano. In a conversation with Culture.pl, Magdalena Kochanowska, the exhibition's curator said:
The first three principles of good design by Dieter Rams relate to innovation, functionality and aesthetics… This Polish exhibition will show that besides its relationship with the entire spectrum of contemporary problems, design has certain constant features: beauty and functionality. Thanks to that, designers can ‘smuggle’ into our culture new patterns of behaviour and new values: respect for tradition, individualism, permanence, a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle.
Form or Function? What is most important in contemporary design? Visitors to the Milan exhibition will be able to decide for themselves. The exhibition will be accessible from two entrances, named Beauty and Pragmatism. Each subsequent object will direct the audience to other objects in which either the form or the function is more important. The curator adds:
No matter which entrance we use, we will discover that design is both beautiful and functional – even though the equilibrium between these two concepts can be differentiated and not always obvious.
This ‘doubled’ exhibition experience is possible thanks to set design by CENTRALA, the architectonic studio. Their so-called ‘spatial relief’ invokes the experimental exhibition projects realised in Milan by Oskar Hansen and Wojciech Zamecznik.
The graphical concepts for the exhibition were prepared by Jakub Jezierski, who used contrasting typefaces, such as combining Art Nouveau typography with a contemporary utilitarian one. The organisers of the exhibition write:
Inscribing the title of the exhibition in a circle emphasises the interdependence of pragmatism and beauty. The composition is filled with hypnotising, floating shapes which have no function, they simply are a pure emanation of beauty. It's a temporary, playful triumph of form over functionality.
The exhibition will be opened with an abstract animation by Tymek Borowski, which juxtaposes two modes of action:
The first one is expressive, volatile, cavalier, unfounded, while the second one is analytical, created out of necessity. The first one will direct the visitors towards the Beauty entrance, the second towards Pragmatism. Even though the animation separates these two perspectives, it doesn't put them in opposition. The combination and equilibrium of these two qualities stands for good design – and beyond.
The Beauty section will showcase works such as: the decorative antlers My Dear by Agnieszka Bar; FIDU Alphabet by Oskar Zięta and Marian Misiak; a set of plates by Karina Marusińska; Roman Modzelewski's RM57 chair; and the Board to Board table designed by the Malafor group. The Pragmatism section will include: the modular rack system Prom by Niemywska Grynasz Studio; Anna Łyszcz's Tapio water carafe; Neuroon, an intelligent sleep mask by Inteliclinic; and The Black cosmetic scissors by Renomed.
The exhibition fits in with this year's Triennale motto: ‘21st Century: Design After Design’. The Triennale curators use the concept to cast attention upon the multiple contexts in which design is embedded.
Design is sensitive to any cultural, social, economic and technological changes, and at the same time it constitutes a cultural factor itself. It influences social and economic relations and the introduction of new technologies.
The exhibition is organised as part of a programme promoting Polish design worldwide, co-ordinated by Culture.pl.
XXI International Exhibition of the Triennale di Milano
21st Century: Design After Design
Beauty & Pragmatism | Pragmatism & Beauty – exhibition of Polish design
2nd April to 12th September 2016
Società per le Belle Arti ed Esposizione Permanente, Milan
Organiser: Culture.pl
Curator: Magdalena Kochanowska
Exhibition design: CENTRALA Designers’ Task Force
Visual identity: Kuba Jezierski