Richard Artschwager, Chair, 1965 - 2000 Acryl, Fotografie auf Papier und Holz 102,9 x 52,1 x 50,8 cm Edition von 6 Courtesy Monika Sprüth Philomene Ma

Richard Artschwager, Chair, 1965 - 2000
Acryl, Fotografie auf Papier und Holz
102,9 x 52,1 x 50,8 cm
Edition von 6
Courtesy Monika Sprüth Philomene Magers, Berlin/London
(c) VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009

23 May - 5 July 2009
Where does design end and art begin? Charles Eames, the most influential designer of the mid-twentieth century, said that ‘design is an expression of purpose. It may (if it is good enough) later be judged as art.’ Contemporary young designers see the matter more pragmatically. According to the Spanish designer Jaime Hayon, ‘there is no longer a clear border between product design and art.’ The most recent answer to this question is inherent in the new phrase ‘design-art’.

 Tom Price, Meltdown Chair: PP Tube # 1, 2008 Polypropylen Röhren 100 x 180 x 140 cm Courtesy Tom Price, Foto: Christoph Bolten

Tom Price, Meltdown Chair: PP Tube # 1, 2008
Polypropylen Röhren
100 x 180 x 140 cm
Courtesy Tom Price, Foto: Christoph Bolten



Artists like Franz West and others investigate the changing functions of sculpture and in so doing dissolve the borders between art and design, between ‘free’ and ‘applied’ creation, by allowing hybrids from other areas to develop. In the field of design, on the other hand, designers like Ron Arad or Marc Newson are increasingly discovering the sculptural qualities of design. They are distancing themselves from a conditionality of design - namely its function and the inherent possibility of reproducing something any number of times - and are creating unique items or small editions. The borders between ‘fine’ and ‘decorative’ art is becoming more blurred.

Kram/Weisshaar, Breeding Table, 2003 - ongoing Baustahl, lasergeschnitten und gebogen, Chrom verspiegelte Glasfläche 80 x 160 x 74 cm Courtesy KRAM/WE

Kram/Weisshaar, Breeding Table, 2003 - ongoing
Baustahl, lasergeschnitten und gebogen, Chrom verspiegelte Glasfläche
80 x 160 x 74 cm
Courtesy KRAM/WEISSHAAR AB, Stockholm/München

The artists/designers featuring in this exhibition include David Adjaye – Ron Arad – John Armleder – Richard Artschwager – Ronan + Erwan Bouroullec – Fernando + Humberto Campana – Hussein Chalayan – Frédéric Dedelley – Martino Gamper – Liam Gillick – Rodney Graham – Johanna Grawunder – Konstantin Grcic – Zaha Hadid – Studio Job – Donald Judd – Mona Hatoum – Arik Levy – Ross Lovegrove – Marc Newson – Jorge Pardo – Tom Price – Richard Prince – Rolf Sachs – Tejo Remy – Ettore Sottsass – Haim Steinbach – Kram/Weisshaar – Marcel Wanders – Franz West – Andrea Zittel.

Supported by the Primeminister of Northrhine-Westfalia, sponsered by Raumkonzepte Klode and ERCO, Mediapartners are design magazine FRAME and design platform Stylepark.


NRW-Forum Kultur und Wirtschaft
Ehrenhof 2, 40479 Düsseldorf
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 11.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m. / Friday: 11.00 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Franz West, Sitzskulptur, 2004 Aluminium, Lack 54 x 136 x 99 cm Courtesy the artist und Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zürich, Foto: Stefan Altenburger Phot

Franz West, Sitzskulptur, 2004
Aluminium, Lack
54 x 136 x 99 cm
Courtesy the artist und Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zürich, Foto: Stefan Altenburger Photography, Zürich

Andrea Zittel A-Z Clocks, 1994 Wandinstallation mit 5 Uhren 5-teilig, je 35,5  x 35,5 x 8,6 cm Prototype A-Z Dishless Dining Table, 1993 Holz, Metall,

Andrea Zittel
A-Z Clocks, 1994
Wandinstallation mit 5 Uhren
5-teilig, je 35,5  x 35,5 x 8,6 cm
Prototype A-Z Dishless Dining Table, 1993
Holz, Metall, Farbe
Tisch 73,3 x 127,1 x 103,7 cm
Courtesy Sammlung Goetz, Foto: Wilfried Petzi, München

Ron Arad, Bodyguards, 2008 200 x 94 x 110 cm Courtesy The Gallery Mourmans, Lanaken

Ron Arad, Bodyguards, 2008
200 x 94 x 110 cm
Courtesy The Gallery Mourmans, Lanaken

Haim Steinbach, Untitled, (Daybed Coffin), 1989 Holz, Mies van der Rohe Liege "Barcelona" 176,2 x 257,8 x 208,6 cm Collection Fond régional d'art cont

Haim Steinbach, Untitled, (Daybed Coffin), 1989
Holz, Mies van der Rohe Liege "Barcelona"
176,2 x 257,8 x 208,6 cm
Collection Fond régional d'art contemporain Bretagne, Foto Richard Dumas

Marc Newson, Diode Lamp (large - blue), 2006 220 x 74,3 x 24,1 cm Glass, Aluminium, Carbon fiber Edition von 10 Courtesy Gagosian Gallery, New York, (

Marc Newson, Diode Lamp (large - blue), 2006
220 x 74,3 x 24,1 cm
Glass, Aluminium, Carbon fiber
Edition von 10
Courtesy Gagosian Gallery, New York, (c) Marc Newson

Ross Lovegrove, Liquid Megabioform Table, 2007 Poliertes Aluminium 72 x 290,8 x 162,5 cm Edition von 6 Courtesy Ross Lovegrove, Lovegrove Studio, Lond

Ross Lovegrove, Liquid Megabioform Table, 2007
Poliertes Aluminium
72 x 290,8 x 162,5 cm
Edition von 6
Courtesy Ross Lovegrove, Lovegrove Studio, London


Arik Levy, Rock mirror, 2005 / 2006 Polierter Edelstahl 87 x 102 x 9 cm Courtesy Designer's Gallery/Gabrielle Ammann, Köln

Arik Levy, Rock mirror, 2005 / 2006
Polierter Edelstahl
87 x 102 x 9 cm
Courtesy Designer's Gallery/Gabrielle Ammann, Köln

Richard Prince, Nurse Hat Chair, 2008 Polyurethan und Edelstahl 99,1 x 142,2 x 101,6 cm Edition von 7 Courtesy Gagosian Gallery, New York

Richard Prince, Nurse Hat Chair, 2008
Polyurethan und Edelstahl
99,1 x 142,2 x 101,6 cm
Edition von 7
Courtesy Gagosian Gallery, New York

David Adjaye, Monoforms, Type IV - Galilee, 2007 Massiv amerikanisches Walnussholz 60 x 110 x 45 cm Edition von 10 Courtesy Albion Gallery, London

David Adjaye, Monoforms, Type IV - Galilee, 2007
Massiv amerikanisches Walnussholz
60 x 110 x 45 cm
Edition von 10
Courtesy Albion Gallery, London

right: Martino Gamper, A 100 Chairs in 100 Days, 2006/2007 Arnoldone 13 September 2007 Courtesy Nilufar Gallery, Milano und Martino Gamper, London Fot

right:
Martino Gamper, A 100 Chairs in 100 Days, 2006/2007
Arnoldone 13 September 2007
Courtesy Nilufar Gallery, Milano und Martino Gamper, London
Foto: Åbäke

left:
Martino Gamper, A 100 Chairs in 100 Days, 2006/2007
Lap-dog 27 July 2006
Courtesy Nilufar Gallery, Milano und Martino Gamper, London
Foto: Åbäke

Studio Job, Homework, Tower, 2007 Bronzeguss, Sockel aus Wenge 113 x 51,5 x 51,5 cm Edition von 5 Sammlung Groninger Museum, Groningen, Foto: R. Kot,

Studio Job, Homework, Tower, 2007
Bronzeguss, Sockel aus Wenge
113 x 51,5 x 51,5 cm
Edition von 5
Sammlung Groninger Museum, Groningen, Foto: R. Kot, Brüssel

Mona Hatoum, Paravent, 2008 Stahl 211 x 302 x 5 cm Edition von 3 Courtesy The Sander Collection

Mona Hatoum, Paravent, 2008
Stahl
211 x 302 x 5 cm
Edition von 3
Courtesy The Sander Collection

Johanna Grawunder, Splits, 2007 Schwarzer Stahl / polierter Edelstahl, LEDs Farben: Hellgrün, Smaragdgrün, Türkis, Blau, Lila, Pink, Orange, Gelb 50 x

Johanna Grawunder, Splits, 2007
Schwarzer Stahl / polierter Edelstahl, LEDs
Farben: Hellgrün, Smaragdgrün, Türkis, Blau, Lila, Pink, Orange, Gelb
50 x 200 x 40 cm
Edition von 6
Courtesy Designer's Gallery/Gabrielle Ammann, Köln

Zaha Hadid, Iceberg, 2003 MDF lackiert 208 x 268 x 200 cm Edition von 6 Courtesy Sammlung Anke Bornemann / Harald Seick, Designer's Gallery/Gabrielle

Zaha Hadid, Iceberg, 2003
MDF lackiert
208 x 268 x 200 cm
Edition von 6
Courtesy Sammlung Anke Bornemann / Harald Seick, Designer's Gallery/Gabrielle Ammann, Köln

John Armleder, Old Rose Garden, FS, 2008 Installation, Acryl auf Leinwand und Rietveld Stuhl Leinwand jeweils Ø 149,5 cm, Stuhl: 71 x 73,5 x 88 cm Cou

John Armleder, Old Rose Garden, FS, 2008
Installation, Acryl auf Leinwand und Rietveld Stuhl
Leinwand jeweils Ø 149,5 cm, Stuhl: 71 x 73,5 x 88 cm
Courtesy Galerie Andrea Caratsch, Zürich

Ron Arad, Box in Four Movements, 1994 Polierter Edelstahl und patinierter Stahl 42 x 42 x 42 cm (geschlossen) Edition von 20 Courtesy Designer's Galle

Ron Arad, Box in Four Movements, 1994
Polierter Edelstahl und patinierter Stahl
42 x 42 x 42 cm (geschlossen)
Edition von 20
Courtesy Designer's Gallery/Gabrielle Ammann, Köln
Foto: Alexander Ring

Fernando und Humberto Campana, Sushi IV, 2003 Edelstahl, Filz, Teppich und Gummi 90 x 100 x 100 cm Edition von 35 Courtesy Albion Gallery, London (c)

Fernando und Humberto Campana, Sushi IV, 2003
Edelstahl, Filz, Teppich und Gummi
90 x 100 x 100 cm
Edition von 35
Courtesy Albion Gallery, London
(c) VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2009

U.F.O. - Blurring the boundaries between art and design

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