Exhibition at the Design Museum Brussels

Design and Transformation. Stories of Czech Design 1990-2020.

Two parts of the exhibition will be on display at the Design Museum Brussels and the Prague House in Brussels (8. 9. - 2. 10. 2022).

7. 9. 2022 – 8. 1. 2023
Design Museum Brussels
Place de Belgique - Belgiëplein, Brussels, Belgium.

The Design and Transformation exhibition in Brussels will exhibit the history, present, and future vision of Czech design on the occasion of the second Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. Two parts of the exhibition will be on display at the Prague House in Brussels and the Design Museum Brussels.

The phenomenon of Czech design is presented through the stories of 14 selected companies and projects, from the oldest ones founded after the mid-19th century (TON, Český porcelán, Škoda Auto, Strážnický modrotisk), during the 20th century and after the Velvet Revolution (Lasvit, LINET, mmcité, Bomma), to completely new projects (PÁR). However, the main focus is on the specific period of the past 30 years.

In addition to the historical perspective, the project also focuses on the current form and role of Czech design now supported by the state, the activities of professional organizations, and activities in the field of education. UMPRUM, the main organiser of the exhibition, is one of the places where students come up with bold visions (Unique Client), which they then test in collaboration with a number of companies. Besides the products themselves, the exhibition presents the related transformation of society and design production and traces new strategies and ways in which designers approach today's technological, ecological, and ethical challenges. Flexibility and the ability to build on tradition with visionary ideas are specific to Czech thinking and design with an international reach (Linet, Egoé, mmcité).

In connection with the shift in the concept of design from the production of beautiful material objects to the virtual realm, the discipline itself is fundamentally changing, and the exhibition will also witness this transformation. Therefore, the exhibition will include, among other things, an interactive section with products from the workshop of game developers Amanita Design or the so-called "print farm" - an installation by Prusa Research permanently producing parts for assembling objects.

Exhibition at Design Museum Brussels:

• Exhibits representing significant products of 12 Czech companies and projects:
• Text information about the history and significance of the companies.
• Newly created animated documentaries about six selected companies working pictorially with materials typical of the company's production (glass, wood, textiles). The animated works not only illustrate the production and history of the companies but also represent an essential part of the exhibition, as these new works represent the thriving field of Czech animation.
• Interactive installation by Prusa Research (a print farm permanently producing parts for assembling objects), visual and game performance by Amanita Design.
• Card catalogue of Czech design – Adam Štěch and OKOLO Studio.
• Gaming section with Amanita Design products.

Featured companies and projects:
Amanita Design, Bomma, Botas/PÁR, Český porcelán, Egoé, LINET, Strážnický modrotisk, Prusa Research, Škoda Auto, Textile Mountain, TON, and Unique Client.