Modern Dutch Design, an exposition of furniture, decorative art, posters and other objects dating from 1890 to 1940, will be exhibited alongside a large-scale contemporary art installation by Dutch artist Christie van der Haak at Miami Beach’s Wolfsonion-FIU museum this fall.
“During these decades, Dutch design shows a constant tension between structure and decoration,” says Wolfsonian curator Silvia Barisione, who organized the exhibition. “Together with an emphasis on geometry, this tension reaches its purest form in the plain and abstract language of De Stijl, the avant-garde movement that had such a major impact on postwar and contemporary designers. We’re thrilled to be mining the riches of the Wolfsonian’s collection to illustrate this trajectory to the public with some of the greatest examples of Dutch design in the U.S.”
The installation will feature van der Haak’s tapestry-inspired patterns wrapped around the museum’s exterior, and will likely be one of the area’s largest-scale installations on Miami Beach during the Art Basel fair. It will span three levels on two sides of the building’s exterior and will reach a height of 60-plus feet above street level. There will also be nightly projections against the museum’s facade to further introduce visitors to contemporary Dutch design. “When I saw the tiered facade of the Wolfsonian, I was over the moon,” says van der Haak. “It is the perfect canvas for my work, which consists of patterns and the interweaving of different patterns. By changing patterning by floor, my project will trigger associations with design from various cultures and ages, mirroring the exhibition inside.”
Among the Modern Dutch Design exhibit works are architect and designer Michel de Klerk’s deep purple velvet armchair; Giso 404, a piano lamp of geometric forms designed by J.J.P. Oud; a clock and set of incense burners by Amsterdam School sculptor Hildo Krop; and a chandelier with marine, navigation and trade themes, also by De Klerk.
“Every December during Art Basel Miami Beach and DesignMiami/, the latest, trendsetting designs are presented to the world. We could not ask for better timing to present Christie’s project alongside our unparalleled Dutch collection,” said Tim Rodgers, Wolfsonian director. “The synergy between our exhibition of modern Dutch design and Christie’s transformation of the museum’s facade will highlight the significant contributions Dutch designers and artists have made both in the past and in the present. Without a doubt, these presentations will be the talk of the design community during Miami Art Week.”
