The rectangular view. Design and Art in Dialogue - Highlights of an American private collection

For the first time in Europe the Museum für Angewandte Kunst is presenting a unique private American collection under the heading “The Rectangular View. Design and Art in Dialogue”. The extensive collection includes both painting and graphic art, design classics and outstanding examples of interior and industrial design, among them excellent Art Déco objects which are less well-known in this country. The exhibition invites the visitor to make comparisons across genres and borders by juxtaposing exhibits of pure and applied art alongside each other. For the observer this produces an exciting dialogue which illustrates epochmaking trends in art and design in the 20th century. Visitors will discover many things in the exhibition which were not usual in Europe in this form – typically American “table utensils” and bar accessories. A special feature are the 200 American radio sets from the 1920s to the 1960s, some of which like the blue “Nocturne” in reflecting glass became cult objects. In an exemplary way the radio set as an object of everyday use reflects the surprising wealth of forms in everyday design in the wide variety of casings and colours. Further highlights are the legendary Mercedes 300 SL “Gullwing” and the Chrysler “Airflow Imperial” from the year 1934, the American model for the VW Beetle with tubular steel seats.