COMMON OBJECTS: SOVIET AND CHINESE DESIGN 1950-80’S

China, Xicheng District, Dashilan, Dawailangying Hutong 8, The Factory

The exhibition “Common Objects: Soviet and Chinese Design 1950-1980’s” is the first of its kind retrospective showcase bringing together daily objects and graphics designed in the USSR and the PRC in the past century.

“Common Objects: Soviet and Chinese Design 1950-1980’s” is a project organized by the Moscow Design Museum and independent curators Peipei Han, Evgenia Novgorodova. The exhibition will be held from 25^th of September till 3^rd of October as one of the central events in the Design Hop of Dashilar historical area during Beijing Design Week 2013.

 

The shared dream of equality and prosperity was one of the motivators for an active exchange of goods, which lead to common social experiences of Chinese and Soviet consumers. The primary function for design and branding of day-to-day Soviet and Chinese items in 1950-1980’s was to satisfy basic human needs. At the same time, ordinary objects had to represent higher ideals of sharing, versatility, and equal distribution of goods. The designers of the period were charged with creating a new common aesthetic, guided by the design principles of functionality, sustainability, and durability, while keeping in mind that their design was intended for mass production. The Chinese and Soviet industrial and graphic design objects, selected for this project, represent significant moments in the design histories of both countries. The exhibition is divided into different sections; each demonstrating various aspects in the life of a Soviet and Chinese citizen, drawing on the similarities in material culture of the two nations.

 

The exhibition will feature objects from the collection of the Moscow Design Museum and also unique items from private collections in China. Visitors will have the chance to immerse themselves in the iconic Soviet and Chinese design of the 20^th century shown for the first time in a new cross-cultural context.

Organizers:

Moscow Design Museum is an international exhibition and education platform. It is the first, only and unique design museum in Russia, a space where the general public is able to view the best examples of both international and Russian design. The Museum program consists of education projects, large exhibitions, overviews of the history of Russian and international design.  Museum’s curators: Natalia Goldchteine and Natalia Pojidaeva.

 

Museum’s partners in China: Peipei Han, Evgenia Novgorodova are independent curators based in Beijing, China and working on international cultural projects bridging Europe, Russia and China.

 

About Beijing Design Week:

First launched with a pilot effort in 2009, Beijing Design Week has quickly become China’s leading annual platform for design. Beijing Design Week 2013 is a citywide showcase, catalyst and laboratory for raising public design awareness, featuring exhibitions, site-specific projects, large scale installations and theme exhibitions presented in collaborations with various international partners.

 

Project events:

24 September, 7pm

Pre-opening presentation

Beijing, Dongcheng District, Dongzhimennei Dajie 9, Russian Cultural Centre

 

25 September, 4pm

Opening ceremony

Beijing, Xicheng District, Dashilan, Dawailangying Hutong 8, The Factory

 

28 September, 11am

Talk “Common Objects: Soviet and Chinese Design 1950-1980’s”

Beijing, Qianmen Pedestrian Street 2, Capital M restaurant

28 September, 6pm

«Russian Party» by the project general partner - INTERWINE

Beijing, Xicheng District, Dashilan, Dawailangying Hutong 8, The Factory

 

 

General Partner: Interwine  Winter Palace

Design partner: LAVA Design Agency, Office AIO

Media partner: Zhuangshi Magazine, Outlook Magazine, Russia Insight

Supported by: Russian Cultural Centre

Special thanks to: The Big8s