Modernism: Designing A New World

This spring, the Corcoran Gallery of Art will host the critically acclaimed exhibition, Modernism: Designing a New World 1914-1939, from March 17 through July 29, 2007. It is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition on Modernism to be staged in the United States to date and was originally organized by London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). In fact, the Corcoran will be the show's only American venue, following its installation at the V&A and MARTa Herford in Germany.

"This show demonstrates how Modernist art, design and architecture still affect nearly every aspect of our lives. It takes a comprehensive look at Modernism, featuring everything from teacups to buildings with no gaps in between," said the Corcoran's new director and president Paul Greenhalgh.

This ground-breaking and vast exhibition explores the foundation and meaning of Modernist art and design and its evolution into a mass movement that continues to impact the way we live. As it explores key Modernist movements-such as Bauhaus, DeStijl, Constructivism and Purism-the exhibition reveals how the distinctive style developed and what principles defined it. The show also investigates Modernism's key themes, including Utopia; the role of the factory and mass production; the spiritual aspect of modern life; fascination with the healthy body and organic forms found in nature; and, national identity.

Modernism contains more than 390 works and 50 film clips and encompasses a broad range of media, including industrial and graphic design, architecture, painting, film and photography. While its works will represent 17 countries, the Washington exhibition will have a distinct American flavor, featuring American works not in the V&A's exhibition. In fact, the Corcoran is a key lender to this exhibition, with 15 works coming from its permanent collection.

Among the key Modernist figures featured are artists Piet Mondrian, Fernand Léger, Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, Man Ray, Alexander Rodchenko, Wassily Kandinsky, László Moholy-Nagy, Charles Sheeler, and Stuart Davis; architects and designers Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius and Richard Neutra, Marcel Breuer, Gerrit Rietveld, Marianne Brandt and Alvar Aalto.

Modernism is understood more as a loose collection of utopian ideas than a movement or single approach. Modernist artists aimed to use new art and technology to positively transform the world around them. The Modernist aesthetic rejected ornamentation, embracing abstract, geometric forms and strong colors. As such, it provided a template for the Modern world. -- www.corcoran.org