The lines between design and art are fading. Self Unself at Van Abbemuseum is proof of that. Both directors of the Van Abbemuseum, Charles Esche, and Design Academy Eindhoven, Thomas Widdershoven, addressed this in their opening speech yesterday at the Van Abbemuseum. Mayor Rob van Gijzel added some history to the event, by talking about the very first Graduation Show of Design Academy that was held in the museum in 1955.
Press tour
More than 30 journalists and bloggers visited the Van Abbemuseum to see an interesting, humoristic, altruistic and very personal collection of designers’ projects. 23 artists are gathered in the beautiful Van Abbe rooms to tell something about Self and Unself in their work.
From scratch to show in 2 months
On 20 August, the dialogue between the museum and the academy started, and the idea of extending Self Unself sprung up. The curators of the Graduation Show, the team at Van Abbe and Daniela Dossi and Irma Foldenyi, curatorial team of DAE, started putting together the exhibition. Optimism, hard work and collaboration were the ingredients for a great exhibition.