Museum curator of Applied Arts Louis Le Vaillant says these permanent galleries give new life to the Museum's stunning 21,800 piece collection of design and decorative art objects, all of which have an important place in history. Design and decorative arts objects are often made for everyday use, and are now admired for their aesthetic and artistic beauty. "We have a wonderful collection of design pieces which all have great stories to tell"Â says Le Vaillant.
The New Zealand Gallery, ENCOUNTER, will showcase 1100 of the museum's 7000 pieces of local design, making it the most comprehensive presentation in the country. ENCOUNTER will reveal the best examples by local designers, embracing the widest spectrum of works from the collection. Items such as Huia beak brooches, Zambesi couture and modern furniture all proudly take their place at ENCOUNTER making this stunning new gallery the first historical survey outlining the development of the decorative arts in Aotearoa since 1800.
LANDMARKS, the international gallery, will feature pieces designed and made in Europe over the past five centuries. This collection features works made by significant and well-known makers whose objects have been produced with the greatest of artistry, skill and care. This remarkable collection ranges from mid 1700s court fashion to the mid 1900s designs of Coco Chanel, from Art Nouveau and Bauhaus to 21st-century design featuring Maarten Baas' remarkable Clay Chair.
LANDMARKS and ENCOUNTER will place Auckland Museum at the forefront of historic and contemporary interpretation of design and decorative arts, alongside the Powerhouse Museum (Sydney), the Victoria and Albert Museum (London) and many other well respected international design galleries.
By www.aucklandmuseum.com
Posted January 4th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
