Question. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Melbourne?
Graffiti laneways?
The aromatic coffee? The precincts nestled in inner city suburbs? The unpredictable 'keep you on your toes' weather? The never ending selection of restaurants, fashion, art, music and sport? The festivals? Getting swarmed by dandelions while casually strolling down Chapel Street? (or am I the only person that happens too?).
Well when it comes to Melbourne, I think 'design in all of it's glory', which is precisely why I recently packed my bags, blew Brisbane a kiss goodbye and headed south to see what this design savy city had to offer me.
Melbourne does not disappoint. This city has everything to offer and in the five weeks that I have been here I have submerged myself in the culture. Luckily for me I have a couple of Melbournians that are showing me the ropes. One Melbournian in particular, Katelyn James, who I am so excited to announce as a guest blogger on 'friends of lysn' and who shares my obsession for all things design. Katelyn is an extremely talented graphic designer and illustrator. Katelyn's compelling article on 'The Mad Square' exhibition takes you on a journey through the eyes of a graphic designer.
Check out Katelyn's article on 'The Mad Sqaure' exhibition:
http://littleyellowstickynote.blogspot.com.au/p/guest-blog.html
Recently, Katelyn and I headed to the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) to check out 'The Mad Square - Modernity in German Art 1910-37' exhibition. The exhibition takes you on a very emotional journey through three decades of German modernism that encompasses avant-garde movements, such as; Expressionism, Dada, Constructivism, Bauhaus and New Objectivity.
‘Self Portrait’ by Christian Schadd
Image link: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/
The Bauhaus has always captured my curiosity so it was to no ones surprise that I spent the majority of my time in this part of the exhibition. The Bauhaus is one of the most important modernist art and design schools of the 20th century. Designers such as Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe come to mind when thinking of the Bauhaus from an architecture, interior and furniture design point of view.
Walter Gropius once said, 'Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life, necessary for everyone in a civilized society'. I believe this is why the designers from the Bauhaus have created timeless designs that integrate into our modern society.
Tac 02 by Walter Gropius
Mmmmm I want I want! There is a timelessness about the language of the Bauhaus style with its clear and defined lines. Walter Gropius took his inspiration from the mirror symmetrical inversion of teapot and bowl in his design for a modern, streamlined tea service. The elements can also be combined in contrasting white and black porcelain.
Club Chair B3 by Marcel Breuer (1925)
I was a little overwhelmed when I walked into the room and right before me was a Club Chair. The Club Chair B3 was one of Marcel Breuer's first projects (later renamed the Wassily, after the Bauhaus teacher Wassily Kandinsky) made from extruded nickel-plated tubular steel, this chair was the result of Breuer's years of experiments with bending steel and was immediately hailed as an important breakthrough in furniture design.
With so much inspiration in one room it got me thinking, has the Bauhaus influenced design in Melbourne? It would appear that it has influenced design in this city on so many levels. While I was spoilt for choice on examples to show you this particular Bauhaus inspired design captured my attention.
Now I know what you are all thinking....I choose this image because of the Pug. Yes, I did. But, I also choose this image because Australian designer Catherine Federici has designed her third series of eyewear for ISSON. Her new designs embrace the simplicity of the Bauhaus ideology: stripping back design to its core function focusing on the lack of unnecessary ornamentation.
On a side note, how fabulous is this fashion photography?!
The Bauhaus designs continue to inspire designers to use contemporary materials that are functional, lightweight and hygienic which then translates into creative, innovative and functional objects for our modern society.
