“Joe Colombo – Design and the invention of the future” Vitra Design Museum exhibition in Leipzig

A cult figure among designers, relatively unknown amongst the general public Joe Colombo is without doubt one of the most important designers of the 20th century. The Vitra Design Museum exhibition “Joe Colombo – Design and the invention of the future” is the first international retrospective of the man, his work and his influence. From April 3rd until the end of June the exhibition is on display at the Grassi Museum here in Leipzig and, as one would expect from an official Vitra partner, smow is co-sponsoring the exhibition.

Invariably portrayed in photos as the archetypal 60s jazz musician Joe Colombo began his career as an an architect before moving onto furniture design in the early 1960s. Perhaps most famous for his work with plastic – including his “Universale” chair for Kartell, the first chair to be created by a single injection mould and available from smow as model 4867 – Colombo was also a passionate light designer and experimenter.

With it’s futuristic form and somewhat improbable appearance Colombo’s work paved the way for the pop art and plastic design of the 1970s. A decade that the great man himself never saw. Joe Colombo suffered a heart attack and died on July 30th 1971 – his 41st birthday.

But as with all who challenge convention and break into new ground, the importance and teachings from his work remain. And many of his creations such as the “Boby” trolley for BIEFFEPLAST or the aforementioned 4687 remain as contemporary and popular today as when they were first released.
We at the (smow)blog will be accompanying the exhibition and providing regular updates and reviews from the numerous fringe and accompanying events.