Konstantin Grcic Panorama Vitra Design Exhibition Concept Museum Konstantin Grcic Panorama Medici, side chair, Mattiazzi, Konstantin Grcic, 2012 Champions, table, Galerie Kreo, Konstantin Grcic, 2011 Diana A-F, side tables, ClassiCon, Konstantin Grcic, 2002 Myto, cantilever chair, Plank, Konstantin Grcic, 2008 Miura, bar stool, Plank, Konstantin Grcic, 2005 Konstantin Grcic is one of the leading designers of and refines the construction and functionality of his objects our time. His work is characterized by an intensive in a lengthy development process. Inspirations from fine arts exploration of new materials and technologies, and film lend Grcic’s objects a highly individual, often un- but also by a keen interest in contemporary art conventional aura – at times unwieldy, at times poetic, at and future living. Many of Grcic’s creations, such times surreal and surprising. as Chair_One (2004) or the Mayday lamp (1999), Another important point of reference for Grcic’s works is the are already recognized as design classics. With history of design itself, such as when he reinterprets well- the exhibition «Konstantin Grcic – Panorama», the known classics with the Bench B seating system (2013) and Vitra Design Museum is organizing the largest his OK lamp (2013). A particular source of fascination for Glove, vessel, Cor Unum, Konstantin Grcic, 2002 Missing Object, Galerie Kreo, Konstantin Grcic, 2004 Avus, club chair, Plank, Konstantin Grcic, 2011 Tom & Jerry, stool, Magis, Konstantin Grcic, 2011 solo exhibition on his work to date. It will be shown Grcic are past exhibitions on the future, such as «Visiona 2» by at the Vitra Design Museum from March through Verner Panton (1970) and the legendary exhibition «Italy – September 2014 along with subsequent presen- The New Domestic Landscape», which was shown at New tations at various museums worldwide. York’s Museum of Modern Art in 1972. Such futuristic yet long past projects provide Grcic with inspiration for his own work: Konstantin Grcic began his career with training in cabinet which predictions have come true, which have gone making followed by design studies at the Royal College of unfulfilled? How can we today create similarly salient visions Art in London. After a brief stint in the studio of the designer that reflect our collective expectations and hopes for the Jasper Morrison, he opened his own practice in Munich in future? And what role can be played by design? Coup, tea set, Tomas Rosenthal, Konstantin Grcic, 2005 Tip, waste bin, Authentics, Konstantin Grcic, 2003 Dummy, Prototypes in PU-foam, Moroso, Konstantin Grcic, 2004 1991. In his studio, Grcic has since worked primarily as a designer of furniture, products and interiors in collaboration with such renowned clients as Authentics, BASF, ClassiCon, Emeco, Flos, Magis, Muji, Nespresso, Plank and Vitra. The exhibition «Konstantin Grcic – Panorama» provides a com- prehensive overview of Grcic’s work and sheds light on his inspirations and work processes. At the same time, it is not a classic retrospective but an independent new design project: Grcic will be developing a number of spatial installations for the exhibition to render his personal visions for life in the future and place them in a broader intellectual context. This concept is closely linked with Grcic’s work approach. For him, design is the development of objects that become part of our future and must satisfy its needs and constraints – in everyday use as well as in social or ecological terms. At a time of crises and technological transformations, Grcic attempts to understand and improve our evolving living con- ditions with the ways and means of a designer. For each project, he closely examines the client’s technical know-how Konstantin Grcic, 2007 Chair_One, Magis, Konstantin Grcic, 2004 Mayday, lamp, Flos, Konstantin Grcic, 1999 Konstantin Grcic Panorama Medici, side chair, Mattiazzi, Konstantin Grcic, 2012 Champions, table, Galerie Kreo, Konstantin Grcic, 2011 Diana A-F, side tables, ClassiCon, Konstantin Grcic, 2002 Myto, cantilever chair, Plank, Konstantin Grcic, 2008 Miura, bar stool, Plank, Konstantin Grcic, 2005 Konstantin Grcic is one of the leading designers of and refines the construction and functionality of his objects our time. His work is characterized by an intensive in a lengthy development process. Inspirations from fine arts exploration of new materials and technologies, and film lend Grcic’s objects a highly individual, often un- but also by a keen interest in contemporary art conventional aura – at times unwieldy, at times poetic, at and future living. Many of Grcic’s creations, such times surreal and surprising. as Chair_One (2004) or the Mayday lamp (1999), Another important point of reference for Grcic’s works is the are already recognized as design classics. With history of design itself, such as when he reinterprets well- the exhibition «Konstantin Grcic – Panorama», the known classics with the Bench B seating system (2013) and Vitra Design Museum is organizing the largest his OK lamp (2013). A particular source of fascination for Glove, vessel, Cor Unum, Konstantin Grcic, 2002 Missing Object, Galerie Kreo, Konstantin Grcic, 2004 Avus, club chair, Plank, Konstantin Grcic, 2011 Tom & Jerry, stool, Magis, Konstantin Grcic, 2011 solo exhibition on his work to date. It will be shown Grcic are past exhibitions on the future, such as «Visiona 2» by at the Vitra Design Museum from March through Verner Panton (1970) and the legendary exhibition «Italy – September 2014 along with subsequent presen- The New Domestic Landscape», which was shown at New tations at various museums worldwide. York’s Museum of Modern Art in 1972. Such futuristic yet long past projects provide Grcic with inspiration for his own work: Konstantin Grcic began his career with training in cabinet which predictions have come true, which have gone making followed by design studies at the Royal College of unfulfilled? How can we today create similarly salient visions Art in London. After a brief stint in the studio of the designer that reflect our collective expectations and hopes for the Jasper Morrison, he opened his own practice in Munich in future? And what role can be played by design? Coup, tea set, Tomas Rosenthal, Konstantin Grcic, 2005 Tip, waste bin, Authentics, Konstantin Grcic, 2003 Dummy, Prototypes in PU-foam, Moroso, Konstantin Grcic, 2004 1991. In his studio, Grcic has since worked primarily as a designer of furniture, products and interiors in collaboration with such renowned clients as Authentics, BASF, ClassiCon, Emeco, Flos, Magis, Muji, Nespresso, Plank and Vitra. The exhibition «Konstantin Grcic – Panorama» provides a com- prehensive overview of Grcic’s work and sheds light on his inspirations and work processes. At the same time, it is not a classic retrospective but an independent new design project: Grcic will be developing a number of spatial installations for the exhibition to render his personal visions for life in the future and place them in a broader intellectual context. This concept is closely linked with Grcic’s work approach. For him, design is the development of objects that become part of our future and must satisfy its needs and constraints – in everyday use as well as in social or ecological terms. At a time of crises and technological transformations, Grcic attempts to understand and improve our evolving living con- ditions with the ways and means of a designer. For each project, he closely examines the client’s technical know-how Konstantin Grcic, 2007 Chair_One, Magis, Konstantin Grcic, 2004 Mayday, lamp, Flos, Konstantin Grcic, 1999 Concept The exhibition centres around three large installa- outlook on our future way of life by correlating utopian and tions dedicated to a key design theme: living and dystopian, enjoyable and disturbing narratives. The fourth and interiors, work and production, and the public final area of the exhibition contains an «Archive of Things», in space. Each of these areas is conceived as a stage- which a large number of Grcic’s previous works will be like scenario with which Grcic lays out his vision of shown, complemented by sketches, models, prototypes, his- the future for the respective theme. The installa- torical objects and found artefacts. Grcic’s oeuvre will be tions will feature existing designs, new objects, presented in a narrative sequence and investigated in found artefacts and archival documents, supple- regard to the influence of other objects and eras, culminat- mented by film material, background information ing in a forward-looking perspective – how will this body of and narrative fragments reflecting the potential works continue to develop? What can we learn about the life of an imaginary user in the various sections of creation and development of design to apply it even more the exhibition. Current debates such as those on effectively for our future? Design study for «Panorama» exhibition by Konstantin Grcic, «Work_Space» sustainability, open design and 3D printing are With its mix of retrospective and outlook, the exhibition further developed and examined in regard to their «Konstantin Grcic – Panorama» also ties in with the at- concrete impact – imparted through the work of tempts of the 1960 / 70s to imagine the future through de- the designer – on our future way of life. sign. Although we know today how easily such visions can fall short, the exhibition represents the position that such For the first area, Grcic creates an experimental habitat. The explorations of the future are more urgent than ever in light personal needs and aspirations placed on future living situ- of the many challenges faced by humanity. While past ations will be explored by means of a programmatic dwelling designers often placed an excessive faith in technology space with a central living platform that includes technical and expressed their belief in a «brave new world», Grcic is features and functions as a flexible, yet intimate enclosure. seeking more differentiated, contemporary images for our The second area will show the prototype of a design studio, future ways of life.