04-11-2009

12-12-2009

Austria, Wien
Universität für angewandte Kunst, Vordere Zollamtsstrasse 3, 1030 Vienna www.dieangewandte.at

Posted by: artcitizens

Category: Exhibition

Field: Design

Source http://www.form.de

The exhibition “Der Traum einer Sache – Social Design zwischen Utopie und Alltag” (“Dream for a Cause – Social Design between Utopia and Reality”) at the Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien (University of Applied Arts Vienna) puts the concept of social design up for discussion. The exhibition was conceived by an interdisciplinary team consisting of 21 curators participating in the ecm Exhibition Theory and Practice Master’s program.

Social design does not center on styling, but rather on social questions and social responsibility. How can we deal with diminishing resources? How can we create and share knowledge? How can everyone benefit from technological developments equally? How do social problems become evident? This exhibition presents around 60 objects highlighting historical attitudes, motivations and promises as well as contemporary strategies to combat problems. The show is structured into five thematic areas that are visualized in the exhibition architecture by way of subway lines. Visitors can travel through the exhibition along the lines and change direction where they cross.

The line “Modern Utopia” addresses historical points of reference for social design. It includes, for example, a work chart for designers by the architect and designer Victor Papanek (1927-1999), who strongly attacked consumption-oriented design with his book “Design for the Real World” in 1970. Moreover, it encompasses designs by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, the Mobile Home Library by Friedrich Kiesler (1890-1965) and a video work by Dorit Margreiter.

Technological innovation as a double-edged sword, at once a solution to and cause of social problems, is addressed on the line “Progress Promises”. Here, critical musings by Theodor Adorno are on show next to current positions such as the temporary exhibition Massive Change by Bruce Mau, which calls on people to solve social misunderstandings by means of responsible design.

On the “Conditions of Production” line, designers’ self-portrayals and own expectations regarding their performance form the starting point for shedding light on the occupation.

“Critical Investigations” explores questioning established social, political and cultural norms in terms of everyday actions, illustrated, for example, by furniture from the 1980s and 1990s, the design of which reflects its function. It also considers modern projects such as the Website www.socialdesignsite.com, which aims to being about social change through networking.

Finally, the line “Artistic Scopes” looks at contemporary projects from the fields of art and design that struggle to facilitate social involvement, such as the Garbarage project by WochenKlausur, a video work by Jochen Traar and a photo study by the designers Danklhampel.

For information on the exhibition and supporting program, please visit www.socialdesign.at

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