|
|
The Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner is the subject for the present exhibition at Dansk Møbelkunst, Copenhagen.
Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007) was born in Tønder, Denmark where he trained as a cabinetmaker from 1928-1931. He went on to the school of Arts, Crafts and Design in Copenhagen, studying furniture design from 1936-1938. Upon completion Wegner went on to work for Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller, before setting up his own office in 1943.
Dansk Møbelkunst has spent a number of years collecting the pieces for this exhibition. It is our aim to not only show the great Wegner classics, such as The Peacock Chair (1947) and The Round Chair (1949), but the exhibition is also a unique opportunity to see some of the more rare Wegner designs.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is a unique lounge chair from 1950 - the so called Dolphin Chair.
http://www.dmk.dk/calendar/2007/may/#dolphin
The Dolphin Chair was shown by its maker, master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, at the Cabinetmakers' Guild Furniture Exhibition in 1950. It was sold at the exhibition and knowledge of its whereabouts was unknown until it resurfaced in 2006. This sculptural and magnificently crafted chair is the perfect example of the unique collaboration that took place between the master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen and the gifted furniture designer Hans J. Wegner. Their collaboration went on for many years, and included a yearly exhibition of their joint efforts at the Cabinetmakers' Guild furniture exhibition starting in 1941 and up to the last of these exhibitions in 1966.
A cabinetmaker himself, Wegner took part in the entire production process. After completing the drawings he was in the workshop with the cabinetmakers carrying out the prototypes and overseeing the workmanship. He had a deep understanding for the nature of wood, its possibilities as well as its limitations, and together with the cabinetmakers he strived to find the most constructive solutions. But the solutions never compromised the beauty of the finished piece of furniture. On the contrary Wegner had a fondness for making the joints, particularly on the back rests of chairs, so beautiful that they stood out and became a decorative part of the finished design.
http://www.dmk.dk/calendar/2007/may/#swivel
The international commercial breakthrough came in 1950 when the American Interiors Magazine featured The Round Chair on the cover and called it "the world's most beautiful chair". The chair was also later used in the televised presidential debate between JFK and Nixon in 1961, and has since been known simply as "The Chair". International export success followed, not only of the cabinetmaker furniture from Johannes Hansen, but equally of the more industrialized furniture from manufacturer, Fritz Hansen, Getama, Carl Hansen & Søn, PP Møbler, AP Stolen and Andreas Tuck.
The diversity of Wegner's abilities combined with his insisting talent, resulted in a large production, but he remained uncompromising. Each model is a variation on a theme and should be viewed as an attempt of an even better solution.
Hans J. Wegner has received numerous national and international honours throughout his long career, and his work is to be found in the permanent collections of the world's most prestigious museums.
Pictures from the exhibition:
http://www.dmk.dk/calendar/2007/may/
An exclusive exhibition catalogue is now for sale through the website. The detailed images beautifully depict all of the pieces in the exhibition. Introduction in English by Danish journalist and author Henrik Sten Møller.
http://www.dmk.dk/shop/
Exhibition: May 9 - 30, 2007
Dansk Møbelkunst, Bredgade 32, 1260 Copenhagen.
Monday - Friday 10am - 6 pm. Saturday 10am - 3pm.
|
