MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
THE DESIGN MUSEUM, LONDON
THE DESIGN MUSEUM, LONDON
’RE-CONSIDERING CANON’ Exhibition
The Design Museum, London
15-23 September 2018
in collaboration with Gallery FUMI
as part of the London Design Festival 2018
The Design Museum
Artists:
'Reconsidering the Canon' critically interrogates the enduring influence of institutional design canons, both within historical contexts and contemporary practices of curation, collection, and interpretation. Central to this discourse are pivotal questions: By what criteria are design artifacts selected for inclusion in institutional collections or exhibitions? How do curatorial bodies and collectors address and mitigate implicit biases inherent in the processes of acquisition and canon formation? In recent years, the hegemonic museum canon has been subjected to rigorous critique, rejection, and diversification. The emergence of alternative canons reflects shifting sociocultural values, challenging entrenched institutional paradigms, hierarchical power structures, and systemic inequities embedded within the field.
To interrogate these foundational principles, a cohort of emerging curators from the MA Curating Contemporary Design program at Kingston School of Art, in collaboration with Gallery FUMI, has commissioned nine contemporary designers to critically engage with a specific historical design canon spanning the past 150 years. Through their creative responses, these designers either affirm or subvert the canon, offering nuanced critiques that interrogate its ideological underpinnings and relevance within contemporary design discourse. This initiative seeks to provoke a reexamination of established norms, fostering a more inclusive and reflexive approach to the curation and interpretation of design within institutional contexts.
THE DESIGN MUSEUM, LONDON
224-238 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 6AG
’Reconsidering Canon in a Diverse World’ Talk and Screening
The Design Museum, London
Saturday 15 September 2018, 14:00-17:00
What to Expect
What defines a design-historical canon? Why are some narratives prominently featured in museums while others are marginalized? Esteemed curators explore the construction of the canon in the context of today’s multifaceted and inclusive world.
Design works considered "canonical" are typically those with widespread influence, prominently showcased in museum collections, and extensively studied in academic circles. However, the design-historical canon frequently faces criticism for its lack of diversity, particularly in its representation and treatment of issues related to class, race, and gender.
For decades, women and non-Western designers—especially those from African, Asian, and South American backgrounds—have been systematically overlooked and often excluded from design history. What are the implications of this exclusion for our understanding of design as a discipline? How do we determine which objects, individuals, and events are worthy of inclusion in the design-historical narrative?
This discussion is part of the *Reconsidering Canon* exhibition and is presented in collaboration with the MA Curating Contemporary Design program at Kingston School of Art.
Speakers
Dr Danah Abdulla, Allan Collins, Corinna Gardner
Riya Patel, Sam Pratt, Valerio Capo, Debika Ray
Jana Scholze, Tim Simpson, Frederico Duarte
EXTERNAL LINKS
01.
London Design Festival 2018
Explore the theme ‘belonging’ at the Design Museum during London Design Festival 2018. Discover exhibitions, events and installations taking over the museum to celebrate a sense of belonging and ownership of design for all
https://designmuseum.org/whats-on/london-design-festival-2018
02.
'Reconsidering Canon' Exhibition, Design Museum London
What constitutes a design-historical canon? Why are certain histories represented in museums and others excluded? Leading curators examine the formation of canon in today’s diverse world.
https://designmuseum.org/whats-on/london-design-festival-2018/reconsidering-canon
03.
'Reconsidering Canon in a Diverse World', Talk and Screening, Design Museum London
Join this half day event comprising talks, round table discussions and screenings, bringing together leading curators and designers to explore how design canons are formed.
04.
'Re-considering Canon' - Fumi Gallery
Reconsidering Canon questions and debates the influence of institutional design canons in history and in the contemporary practice of selecting, collecting and interpreting design. What are the criteria to select a design piece to be included in a collection or exhibition?