The exhibition "Common Objects: Soviet and Chinese Design 1950-1980's" is the first of its kindof retrospective showcase bringing together daily objects and graphics designed in the USSR and the PRC in the past century.
"Common Objects: Soviet and Chinese Design 1950-1980's" is a project organized by Moscow Design Museum and independent curators Peipei Han, Evgenia Novgorodova. The exhibitionwill be held from 25th of September till 3rd of October as one of the central events in the Design Hop of Dashilar historical area during Beijing Design Week 2013.
A shared dream of equality and prosperity was one of the motivators for an active exchangeof goods, which lead to a common social experience for Chinese and Soviet consumers. The primary function for design and branding of day-to-day Soviet and Chinese items in 1950-1980's was to satisfy basic human needs. At the same time, ordinary objects were obligated to represent higher ideals of sharing, versatility, and equal distribution of goods. The designers of this period had to create a new common aesthetic, guided by the design principles of functionality, sustainability, and durability, while keeping in mind that their design was intended for mass production. The Chinese and Soviet industrial and graphic design objects selected feature significant moments in the design histories of both countries. The exhibition is divided into different sections; each demonstrating variousaspects in the life of a Soviet and Chinese citizen, drawing on the similarities in material culture of the two nations.
The exhibition will feature objects from the collection of Moscow Design Museum and also unique items from private collections in China. Visitors will have the chance to immerse themselves in iconic Soviet and Chinese designs of the 20th century shown for the first time in a new cross-cultural context.
Organizers
Peipei Han and Evgenia Novgorodova are independent curators based in Beijing and China working on international cultural projects bridging Europe, Russia and China.
The Moscow Design Museum is an international exhibition and education platform. It is the first of its kind, a unique extraordinary space where the general public is able to view the best examples of both international and Russian design. The Museum program consists of education projects, large exhibitions, overviews of the history of Russian and international design, as well as DDAWARDS - a specially created international award for contribution to the development of design.
Project events
Sep 24 Tue 19:00
Pre-opening presentation
Russian Cultural Centre Add: Dongcheng District, Dongzhimennei Dajie 9, Beijing
Sep 25 Wed 16:00
Opening ceremony Dawailangying Hutong 8, The Factory Add: Xicheng District, Dashilan, Dawailangying Hutong 8, The Factory, Beijing
Sep 28 Sat 11:00
Talk "Common Objects: Soviet and Chinese Design 1950-1980's" Capital M restaurant Add: Qianmen Pedestrian Street 2, Beijing
Sep 28 Sat 18:00
<Russian Party> by the project general partner - INTERWINE Dawailangying Hutong 8, The Factory
Add: Xicheng District, Dashilan, Dawailangying Hutong 8, The Factory, Beijing
About the exhibition
General Partner: Interwine Winter Palace
Design Partner: LAVA Design Agency, Office AIO
Media Partner: Zhuangshi Magazine, Outlook Magazine, Russia Insight
Supported by: Russian Cultural Centre
Special thanks to: The Big8s
Add: Xicheng District, Dashilan, Dawailangying Hutong 8, The Factory, Beijing
Courtesy of Russian Cultural Centre in Beijing, for further information please visit chn.rs.gov.ru.
