If there ever has been any work of architecture which has collectively showcased the practice, consumption and cultural impact of international art and modern design, then it is “The State of Things” which hosts more than 100 objects of unique and modern design. During the month of March and April in 2010, the Design Museum Holon presented its inaugural exhibition: “The State of Things: Design and the 21st Century.”
Apart from the work itself, the show was recognized more so for the star-studded cast of contributing designers which included Maarten Baas, Jaime Hayon, Max Lamb, Joris Laarman, Front, Yves Behar, Stephen Burks, Tokujin Yoshioka, Konstantin Grcic, POLKA, Tom Dixon, Ingo Maurer, the Campana Brothers and Dror Benshetrit, among others.
The inaugural exhibition was open to the public and masses on March 4th, 2010 and ran all the way till the 15th of May, 2010. The exhibit – which took place in the new Ron Arad designed, Israeli building featured more than a 100 objects that collectively reflect issues concerning the practice, consumption and cultural impact of contemporary international design.
Each grouping of works, which comprised of a few objects, represented a contemporary category. Whether through the materials employed, the concepts conveyed, or the uses intended, these objects reflected our times so acutely that they could have only been made in the last few years: thus, the relevant naming of “The State of Things.”
The curate objects ranged from ordinary household items to life-enhancing and saving technologies. The essence of the exhibition was to showcase items that have and would make a difference in the lifestyle of man. According to Design Museum Holon’s Creative Director, Galit Gaon, the museum was committed to showcasing the importance of quality design and its relevance to the lives of people at the time of the exhibition’s opening; the objects in the exhibition would reveal the same ingenuity and poetry evident in the new Ron Arad building that would house them after being curated.
The major standout categories on display were namely, New Essentialism, Mutant Remix, Of the Body, Social Anxiety Super Beauty, Craft Economy and Design Lab. The naming of the categories themselves is an indication of the works on display. Thus, “The State of Things, at the Design, Museum Holon was a splendid work of display and without a doubt was a supreme success. The works of art were, according to the artists that worked on them, a tribute to all the things that matter to all the people in the world, who earn less than a $1 per day. The strong social message on display along with the actual objects was the helplessness and unnecessary greed of man for never-ending war, money and loneliness.
“The State of Things” is not merely 100 objects of regular use or technological advancement on display. It is much more. With a message of social responsibility and flare, this work packs more than a punch. A visit to the Design Museum Holon is mandatory to see the remaining items of ‘The State of Things” which are on display. Be it pure art lovers or casual architectural viewers, ‘The State of Things” has a lot to offer.
