–
World of Pattern
Welcome to a world filled with pattern. The exhibition offers a new perspective on the watercolour medium by exploring its crucial role in the development of design, and celebrates watercolour’s unique contribution to pattern-making and visual expression.
Watercolours and works on paper have long been central to the creative process behind abstract and figurative patterns. Their flexibility makes them the perfect instrument for innovation in design. By showcasing both historical and contemporary pattern sketches, which are often kept in inaccessible archives and libraries, the exhibition brings us closer to the artistic depth and inventiveness of watercolour art.
The sketches invite us to question the hierarchical divide between craft and fine art. They tell rich stories about the development of groundbreaking artistic movements – like Arts and Crafts, modernism, Bauhaus and Scandinavian design. Patterns also reflect the visual traditions of non-Western cultures, which can broaden our global understanding.
World of Pattern includes a selection of contemporary artworks to spark an international dialogue. The exhibition also reflects a broader change in the world of art. It reveals how the traditional distinction between fine art and design has gradually dissolved.
Participating artists: Sölvi Helgason (Sólon Íslandus), William Morris & Co, Josef Hoffmann, Josef Albers, Anni Albers, Sonia Delaunay, Arne Jacobsen, Maija Isola, Astrid Sampe, Josef Frank, Stig Lindberg, Viola Gråsten, Ingrid Dessau, Jacob Hashimoto, Henrik Vibskov, Yinka Shonibare and Shahzia Sikander
