Postmodernism, Style and Subversion 1970 – 1990 at V&A
The Victoria & Albert museum, London at the moment showcases Postmodernism, Style and Subversion exhibition which will last until the 15th of January 2012. The exhibition helps to understand the era between 1970 and 1990 and outlines the cultural context of the time and shows examples everything from product design pieces, furniture, fashion and architecture.
‘The modernists wanted to open a window onto a new world. Postmodernism, by contrast, was more like a broken mirror, a reflecting surface made of many fragments. Its key principles were complexity and contradiction‘
My favorite piece from the Postmodernism, Style and Subversion 1970 -1990 exhibition it the ‘Forest Showroom’ by James Wines which is built in Richmond, Virginia. James Wines is the founder and president of SITE (‘Sculpture in the Environment’) which is architecture and environmental design organisation based in New York City. The ‘Forest Showroom’ is one of eight of series called The Peeling Project all of which are the designs for Best Products stores.
Each of these architectural concepts treated the standard "big box" prototype as the subject matter for an art statement. By means of inversion, fragmentation, displacement, distortions of scale, and invasions of nature - these merchandising structures have been used as a means of commentary on the shopping center strip.
While some projects have the bricks coming tumbling down as the main element the ‘Forest Showroom’ allows nature to take over space between structure of the building and the façade looking almost as if the trees are growing from inside of the store.
All images by MoMA
Victoria & Albert museum Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL , London 10.00 to 17.45 daily10.00 to 22.00 Fridays Closed 24, 25 and 26 December