In the Netherlands, Meissen porcelain is often regarded as ‘high-class kitsch’. Its sumptuous, often narrative style of decoration puts it at odds with the minimalistic and conceptual traditions of Modernism. Solid Objectives – Idenburg Liu (SO – IL) was commissioned by Kunsthal KAdE to design an ideal contemporary three-dimensional setting in which to present the porcelain such that it would challenge this prejudice and focus attention on the great sculptural, artistic and technical strengths of Meissen. In response, SO – IL has designed 32 modern, geometrically shaped showcases in bright colors and with ‘pointed tops’. These showcases not only serve the Meissen objects also autonomous in character.
More images by Iwan Baan and information after the break.
Florian Idenburg of SO – IL: “We wanted to devise a strategy that triggers the visitor to literally ‘revisit’ their initial understanding of the objects in the exhibition. By designing the cabinets not to ‘display’ but to actually ‘dissect’ the conventional viewing of the object, the visitor is forced to redefine its relationship to the work. The organization of color, shape and material reduces the individuality of pieces and their object-like character, to create a more fluid and visceral experience. It is a transition from object to experience, and shows architecture’s potential to act as a mediator in this process.
The porcelain shown comes from the collection Von Klemperer, the Meissen factory and several private collections in England and Germany.
The exhibition comes with a book highlighting both the porcelain and the architectural conceptions of SO – IL, and includes texts by Robbert Roos, Nette Megens and Michaels Speaks.
For more information, please click here.
