Van de Velde
14 July - 19 August 1990 Hours: 9:30a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Admission: charged In the latter half of the 19th century, movements to innovate decorative arts and design arose in various parts of Europe - the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain, the Secession in Vienna, Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) that flowered in Belgium, and the unique formative activities of Gaudi in Barcelona. Henry van de Velde, who is featured in this exhibition, is a designer and architect who started his career in Brussels in this period and grave, with the Art Nouveau style, a new life to decorative arts that had been degenerated by the eclecticism prevailing at the time. Van de Velde, while making the flowing curves of Art Nouveau reflect his individuality as an artist, tried to realize in them a beauty that was deeper than the surface and went hand in hand with the functionality of the object. In doing this, he was founding the basis for the central theme of modern design, that is, ideal harmonization of individuality and functionality. In the textile patterns, everyday utensils like tableware, furniture, and interior decoration designed by van de Velde, We can discern a thoughtful depth that derives from this conflict between individuality and functionality. His work in design and architecture, which is presented for the first time in Japan, will, we believe, provide many lessons to functionalist design which is beginning to feel the importance of decoration again. In realizing this exhibition, we received extensive cooperation from many people including Mr. Lieven Daenens, Director of the Museum voor Sierkunst in Gent. We would also like to express our deep gratitude for the generosity of the museums, galleries, and private collectors who have so kindly given us loa?ns of invaluable works. |