During Dutch Design Week 2011 Premsela, the Netherlands Institute for Design and Fashion, opened an exhibition in the Designhuis Eindhoven that both celebrates Dutch Design Week's 10th anniversary and honours 15 Dutch designers who got their break and/or made their name in Eindhoven.
Rather than simply present the 15 in isolation, curator Miriam van der Lubbe presents them in the context of a young designer they admire and of someone who inspired them.
And so, for example, Richard Hutton is presented together with Gerrit Rietveld and Sjoerd Vroonland.
Or Jürgen Bey and Rianna Makkink with Nienke Sybrandy and Marijke van der Wijst.
Consequently, there is no logical progression to be seen through the exhibition; and also no real undiluted hagiography of the 15 "greats."
Rather it is more a collection of, more or less, delightful examples of design presented lovingly, if somewhat matter-of-factly.
Which we like.
Its not the works that are important. Its the designers.
And that comes over very clearly.
Obviously the limitation to Eindhoven means the exhibition doesn't provide a complete Who's Who of modern Dutch design, for example, you'll find no reference to Marcel Wanders, because Eindhoven has played no relevant role in his carear. The exclusion of Hella Jongerius is a touch more difficult to explain.We didn't ask. It's unfair to ask a curator to justify every exclusion you personally find odd.
But ultimately for all interested in the story and development of design in Holland over the last 20 years or so, "Spring: Excellence, Talent and Inspiration in Design" is a wonderful starting point.
We do have one small, not complaint but more negative comment - but we'll save that for a post dedicated to that whole subject. Of which "Spring: Excellence, Talent and Inspiration in Design" is just one example. And not the worst by a long shot.
Spring: Excellence, Talent and Inspiration in Design at Designhuis Eindhoven runs until January 7th 2012.
More details can be found at www.premsela.org
