Inside Out by Tim Walker
Last night’s Design Overtime event at the Design Museum happened, and it was good. On the fourth floor is Tim Walker’s incredible body of work for Vogue, collected over the last ten years or so. The exhibition is beautifully curated, the images so fantastic it could be Narnia. Pictures are up until September 28th, so get there if you can. The third floor was the Forgotten Peacock interactive fashion exhibition, engineered by Takis. A line of men, undressing and dressing into elaborate, modern coats, then slowly walking to a controlled pulse. It was hypnotic. Final stop is the second floor Design Cities exhibition, which runs until the end of the year, so there’s plenty of time yet. I love the concept of this exhibition, partly because I heart category and summary, but mostly because the pieces on display are true classics, and are still exciting to experience. The exhibition covers iconic developments in design in major cities beginning and ending, fittingly, with London. My highlights are as follows, and are a true transcription of my actual notes:
London 1851
Joseph Paxton & the Crystal Palace: My BFF
William Morris: Obviously
Vienna 1908
Michael Thonet Bistro Chair: Fuck yeah
Paris 1928
Le Corbusier Prototype Car: Want to put this in my apartment. Wood! Canvas!
Los Angeles 1949
Eames Lounge Chair: Obviously
Saariaen Tulip Chair and Noguchi Table: We know
Saul Bass Film Posters: Shape and Composition vs. Type and Photography
Milan 1957
Mirelli Sewing Machine: Sexy, Clockwork Orange. Understated. Black & White!
Sottsase Valentine Typewriter: Not my style, but effing hot.
London 2008
Peter Saville’s Kate Moss Ident: Very her, very Brodovitch
Fernando Gutierrez Local News Poster: !
The museum also has a partner initiative with Flickr and Don’t Panic. Add your photo on the theme of Design Cities to the Flickr group before December 1st, and it may be featured in an exhibition in January.
