Nature has been a constant source of inspiration in the ... - eMuseum

In the first passage, «The Discovery of Nature», the basic principles for the overall
project are laid out, and the history of our understanding of nature and its artistic interpretation
since the eighteenth century up to the 1920s is illustrated. Three further
passages focus on culminating periods of nature’s influence on modern design: Art
Nouveau, in which the model of nature, especially the plant world and the dynamics
of its growth, played a more influential role than in almost any other art movement;
the 1930s to the 1970s, with its tendency towards organic design and technoid visions
of the future; and contemporary design, inspired by various concepts of nature.
Primarily represented here is a series of pioneering architecture projects that show
distinctive contemporary interactions between nature and design.
In the thematic landscapes, the objects and projects from the history of twentiethcentury
design up to the present–culled from architecture, landscape architecture,
and art–can be experienced as individual exhibits on the one hand, and, on the other,
taken together they form a scenery in which the respective theme is presented in its
various aspects.
Zurich designer Frédéric Dedelley is responsible for the «Nature Design» exhibition
architecture. The exhibition is divided into two interconnecting areas. In the theoretically
oriented sections the exhibits are presented in oversized but classical table cabinets
– like objects in a natural history museum. At the centre of the hall, large islands
spread out which are reminiscent of rocky landscapes. These artificial rocks are used
for the presentation of exhibits that are allocated to the various thematic landscapes
according to analogies of form.
A number of artists, designers, architects, and landscape architects have developed
works that respond to this concept and make complex contributions to the exhibition.
Nature Design is intended to show the multiple possibilities in the rediscovery and
reinvention of Nature, and to open up new perspectives.
Programme accompanying the exhibition
Design and Innovation
Wednesday, 17 October 2007, 20.00, Halle
With Günter Horntrich (Designer and Professor of Ecology and Design, Köln International
School of Design, KISD, Cologne), Steffen Köhl (Head of Automobile
Design, DaimlerChrysler AG, Sindelfingen), Jürgen Mayer H. (Architect, Berlin
and Guest Professor, Columbia University, New York), Yusuke Obuchi (Co-Director,
Design Research Lab, Architectural Association, London), François Roche (R&Sie(n)
architects and Guest Professor, Columbia University, Paris/New York)
Chair: Gerrit Terstiege (Editor Form, Basel)
In English and German
Die ideale Landschaft
Wednesday, 7 November 2007, 20.00, Halle
With Ines Schaber (Artist, Berlin), Jörg Stollmann (Architect, Zürich), Günther Vogt
(Landscape architect, Zürich), Christian Waldvogel (Artist, Zürich)
Chair: Angeli Sachs (Curator «Nature Design» and Head of Exhibitions,
Museum für Gestaltung Zürich)
In German
Im Reich der Düfte. Eine olfaktorische Weltreise
Wednesday, 28 November 2007, 20.00, Halle
Talk by Roman Kaiser (Director Natural Scents, Givaudan Schweiz AG)
In German
Symposia
Inspiration Nature
Friday 21 / Saturday 22 September 2007
A symposium of the exhibitions «Jugendstil» at Museum Bellerive and «Nature
Design» at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich in cooperation with the Design
Department of the Zurich University of the Arts
21 September, 18.30, Museum Bellerive, Höschgasse 3, 8008 Zürich
22 September, 9.00 – 17.00, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, Lecture Hall
In German and English
Programme at
www.museum-gestaltung.ch
Tickets: Advance sales and box office at the museum shops
Vorwärts zur Natur Design zwischen Innovation und Evolution
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
A symposium of the Design Department of the Zurich University of the Arts in
cooperation with the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
21 November, 9.30 – 17.00, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, Lecture Hall
Limited number of places, please register for participation from 17.9.2007 with
nicole.abler@zhdk.ch
Detailed programme from 17.9.2007
at www.zhdk.ch