Roman Modzelewski, Fotel RM57, lata 50. XX w., est. 100000-140000 zł

The exhibition “Design. Back to the Future” at DESA Unicum

To all those who wonder what makes some designs, although created in different realities, return after decades as design icons, DESA Unicum invites you to the exhibition ‘Design. Back to the Future”. From 3 to 10 October, visitors will have the opportunity to see as many as 165 objects, including design icons such as the legendary RM58 armchair by Roman Modzelewski, the ‘Zlośnica’ designed by Eryka Trzewik-Drost from the Porcelany Factory ‘Bogucice’, the ‘Four Dancers’ from the Faience Factory in Pacyków or the ‘Kula’ coffee service designed by Bogdan Wendorf from the Porcelany and Ceramic Works in Ćmielów.

“Design. Back to the Future” is the perverse title of the exhibition at DESA Unicum, emphasising the nature of contemporary interest in design from years gone by. From 3 to 10 October, visitors will have the opportunity to see objects that decades ago were created as original experiments and prototypes, and today have become icons and are being appreciated anew. Anyone who would like to further explore the history of Polish design will have the opportunity to take part in the next instalment of DESA DESIGN DAYS on 5 October.

An armchair that was ahead of its time

One of the designs that has gained a second life over the years is the RM58 armchair by Roman Modzelewski. The object on display at DESA Unicum is one of the collectors’ sought-after pieces that came out of the artist’s own hand – in 2018, the red RM58 was auctioned off for a record-breaking sum of nearly 100,000 zlotys. Although now ranked as a classic, in 1958, at a time of shortages and restrictions imposed by the Iron Curtain, the epoxy laminate furniture was a true revolution. Although one of Le Corbusier’s own collaborators was said to have been interested in the project, RM58 never made it into mass production during the artist’s lifetime. Too modern and technologically unattainable to implement, the concept meant that until the 1990s few armchairs were made exclusively as gifts for Modzelewski’s friends and acquaintances or for private commissions. It was not until the beginning of the next century that the furniture began its due career. Then, in 2008. Wera Modzelewska, the artist’s wife, sent the project to the exhibition ‘Cold War Modern. Design 1940-70’ organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the armchair found its way not only to the exhibition, but also to the permanent collection. Although it was soon put into wide production by Jakub Sobiepanek, the original furniture, made in the artist’s studio, remains the Holy Grail to this day. They are distinguished by their shorter legs attached to a metal frame under the seat. It was one of these, the yellow RM58, that was included in the exhibition at DESA Unicum.

When did Poles fall in love with ceramics?

At the exhibition “Design. Back to the Future” could not fail to feature ceramics and porcelain, which are experiencing a true renaissance, including decorative figurines, which are gaining great popularity. One of the most sought-after by collectors is the “Mischief Maker” by Eryka Trzewik-Drost. Although the artist is mainly known for her work in glass, shortly after her studies she started working at the Porcelany Factory “Bogucice”. In the design of the “Malice” presented at DESA Unicum, experts see similarities to the famous “Karolinka” candlestick from the years. 70. At the exhibition, fans of figurines will also find, among others, “Four Dancers” and “Pierrot and Kolombina” from the Faience Factory in Pacykowo, dating from between the wars.

by Eryka Trzewik-Drost-Złośnica, Bogucice Porcelain Factory in Katowice-Bogucice, 1960s, est. 25000-35000 zł

This installment of the project also includes applied art. At 1A Piękna Street, one can admire, among others, four iconic coffee services designed by Bogdan Wendorf, whose life story is shrouded in mystery. Researchers even question whether Bogdan Wendorf is the artist’s real name. His studio was located in Paris. It was there that he created his designs, which included three iconic and very modern service cuts: “Flat“, “Caprice” and “Sphere”, regarded as some of the most beautiful examples of Polish art déco, produced at the Porcelain and Ceramics Factory in Ćmielów.

It is worth noting that pre-war creativity was also characterised by a willingness to experiment. They were encouraged, among others, by Karol Tichy – a pioneer of modern artistic ceramics and co-founder of the “Ład” cooperative of visual artists, promoting the introduction of artists’ designs into the production of utilitarian objects. In DESA Unicum we will find, among others, 6 vessels from the Ceramics Studio of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. There is a story connected to them that shows Tiche’s approach. The artist was once said to have brought back a blue-coloured ceramic crumb from his 3,300-year-old trip to Egypt, the colour of which he soon managed to recreate. As Wojciech Jastrzębowski recalls: “I remember his clear, joyful eyes when he brought a still-warm vessel to our professorial meeting, and when he took out of his pocket for comparison (…) an Egyptian crumb from thirty-three centuries ago. The colour, the lustre, the haze and all the subtleties were not only the same, but the same”.

The exhibition ‘Design. Back to the Future’ is open to visitors from 3 to 10 October at DESA Unicum, 1A Piękna Street. Anyone who would like to further explore the history of the objects can take part in DESA DESIGN DAYS on 5 October. Admission to the exhibition and the DDD events is free.

The programme will include:

  • 12:00 – ‘Design. Back to the future ” – guided tour of the exhibition – Mariusz Pendraszewski, DESA Unicum expert
  • 13:00 – Ceramics from the studios of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw – a guided tour of the exhibition – dr
    guided tour of the exhibition – dr Karolina Wolska-Pabian, National Museum in Warsaw
  • 14.00 –Design or sculpture– meeting with Paweł Grunert

More information at: https://desa.pl

source: DESA Unicum

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