By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Li Xinyi
In 2012, the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM) collaborated for the first time with the Fondation d’art contemporain du Nord-Pas de Calais in France to present the exhibition "DESTRØY DESIGN: The Modern Life of Objects." Curated by Hilde TEERLINCK, the director of the foundation, the exhibition showcased 66 works by 54 artists, designers, architects, and design teams from 15 countries, created from the 1960s to the present, spanning half a century. The main theme of the exhibition revolved around the "encounter" between avant-garde design and contemporary art to explore our relationship with everyday or artistic objects and their influence on our daily lives.
The red chair "Fairy Bench" in front, designed by French artist Olivier Mourgue for the film "2001: A Space Odyssey," is the same design featured in the movie. (Image provided by Taipei Fine Arts Museum)
The exhibition will be held on the third floor of TFAM starting tomorrow (the 14th) until September 9. In 2010, Hilde TEERLINCK curated an exhibition titled "DESTRØY DESIGN," where the word "Destroy" implies the destruction of, rebellion against, and rethinking of established values and existing systems. The exhibition toured Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. This Taipei iteration not only continues the curatorial concept of "DESTRØY DESIGN" but also introduces a new theme, "Modern Living," presenting a fresh selection of works and overall planning. It aims to explore the uniqueness of art pieces and the functionality of design objects.
Contemporary artist Wang Junjie designed the exhibition layout, where the arrangement of the space and the artworks echo the core of the "DESTRØY DESIGN" curatorial concept, creating a unique atmosphere for the viewing experience. (Image provided by Taipei Fine Arts Museum)
Although the exhibition appears to focus on design based on its title, it is deeply intertwined with the trends of 20th-century Western modern art, covering avant-garde art topics such as Duchamp's "readymades" concept, pop art, and Arte Povera, as well as cross-disciplinary thinking of the new century. Most participating artists adopt a humorous approach—whether through critique, destruction, reinvention, or transformation—to reinterpret iconic design objects, highlighting the differing perspectives of design and art on the notion of "objects." In some other works, the boundary between artistic creation and design products seems to dissolve or is even completely reversed, challenging our conventional understanding of functional design items.
DESTRØY DESIGN: The Modern Life of Objects Exhibition
Address: Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Dates: July 14 – September 9, 2012
Website: www.tfam.museum
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