Sunday, 4:24pm
4 December 2022
Graphic design live #8
W. E. B. Du Bois in New York, Piotr Szyhalski in Minneapolis, Dieter Roth in Iceland and motion graphics in Shenzhen
As we are heading towards the end of the year and into the holiday season, we compiled a list of talks and exhibitions for you this December. To stay up to date with exhibitions, conferences, talks and workshops, read the Eye Events page which is updated weekly.
Coming Soon
Deconstructing Power: W. E. B. Du Bois at the 1900 World’s Fair
9 December 2022 — 29 May 2023
Location: New York, US
Opening at Cooper Hewitt in New York is an exhibition highlighting a series of data visualisations by W. E. B. Du Bois (see Eye 98) and his students at Atlanta University. Exploring how design can mask and reveal the dynamics of power and equity, these graphics were designed for an installation titled Exhibit of American Negroes, showcased at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair among 46 other countries. Produced mainly on cardboard, these hand-drawn diagrams told the success story of Black Americans, despite the pervasive racism as well as social and economic inequality in the United States.
The production, materiality and the contents of the exhibit were in direct contrast with other countries, who attempted to demonstrate to global community their cultural and economic wealth through rich materials, craftsmanship and innovation. Deconstructing Power: W. E. B. Du Bois at the 1900 World’s Fair places these graphics in direct dialogue with decorative arts that were also displayed at the fair.
Data visualisations designed by W. E. B. Du Bois and students of Atlanta University. Left. Assessed valuation of all taxable property owned by Georgia Negroes, 1900. Right. City and rural population, 1890.
Income and expenditure of 150 Negro families in Atlanta, Ga., U.S.A., 1900; by W. E. B. Du Bois and students of Atlanta University.
Final weeks
Piotr Szyhalski: We are working all the time!
to 31 December 2022
Location: Minneapolis, US
Located at Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis is the major survey of works by Polish/American multimedia artist, Piotr Szyhalski. The exhibition includes pieces from the past three decades of Szyhalski’s career, including poster design, web projects, mail art, painting, installation, and public performance. Questioning the role and power of media, one of the most recent projects on display is COVID-19: Labor Camp Report – a series of single-colour posters created during the pandemic, reflecting on the daily struggles, commenting on the precarity of employment and calling to action for change.
Working with a broad array of mediums and visual languages, the exhibition acts not only as a record of his achievements but a reflection of his ongoing practice. There are numerous artist-led ‘activations’ during the exhibition including printmaking and performance by Szyhalski on select Fridays.
Exhibition view of the posters from COVID-19: Labor Camp Report, 2020, designed by Piotr Szyhalski during the pandemic.
You Work You Eat is a series of enamel painted plates by Piotr Szyhalski.
Final weeks
Dieter Roth: Graphic design
to 31 December 2022
Location: Garðabær, Iceland
Curated and designed by Arnar Freyr Guðmundsson, Birna Geirfinnsdóttir and Fraser Muggeridge (see Eye 100), this exhibition focuses on Dieter Roth’s output as a commissioned graphic designer. As such, it includes items that are difficult to come by due to their ephemeral nature and fragile materiality: advertising catalogues; journals; posters; illustrations; book covers; restaurant menus; textiles and paper bags. These ordinary objects found in everyday life tell a more humble story of Roth, who is known as Icelandic design pioneer.
Celebrating graphic design as a practice, ‘Dieter Roth: Graphic design’ draws from the numerous and necessary collaborations he formed with clients, colleagues, acquaintances and printers. The accompanying exhibition catalogue is available for purchase.
‘Dieter Roth: Graphic design’ exhibition.
Exhibition view of ‘Dieter Roth: Graphic design’ featuring spreads from Birtingur journal designed by Roth.
Ongoing
Flow: Graphics in motion
to 5 January 2023
Location: Shenzhen, China
Curated by Liu Gang and Roy Terhorst (see Eye 100), ‘Flow: graphics in motion’ is the first exhibition of its kind in China. Presenting motion graphic design by 25 designers and studios from 10 countries, the works were curated into the following categories: typeface; movement; branding; poster; exhibition; crossover of traditional graphic design and experimental works. With the advancement of media and technology, the exhibition draws focus on the shift from static design to moving, mobile and interactive graphic forms.
Featured in the exhibition are DIA studio, Jennifer Sterling, Kiel D. Mutschelknaus (see Eye 100), Kyuha Shim, Studio Dumbar/DEPT® (see Eye 100), Tomohiro Okazaki, Yehwan Song, Zach Lieberman (see Eye 80), and many more. In addition to the physical exhibition, eight of the featured artist will give online lectures for professionals and the general public.
Exhibition view of Flow: Graphics in motion, curated by Liu Gang and Roy Terhorst.
Flow: Graphics in motion is part of OCT-LOFT Creative Festival 2022.
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