May 22, 2015
Philadelphia Museum of Art/for PhillyVoice
"Eat and Drink" Service, Designed 1980 by Ergonomi Design Gruppen, Bromma, Sweden, 1979 present. Metal, plastic.
Philadelphia Museum of Art will open "Northern Lights: Scandinavian Design," an exhibit highlighting the region's decorative and product design, beginning May 23. It is scheduled to conclude Oct. 4. Modern and contemporary design from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, from 1900 through today will be featured.
Work from the middle of the twentieth century will get a particular emphasis. America gained a hearty enthusiasm for works from these countries at that time. Cultural icons like Jacqueline Kennedy embracing the work of Marimekko and the first televised presidential debate taking place on Hans Wegner chairs helped spark the trend stateside.
Of course, you can't talk about Scandinavian design without IKEA, the ubiquitous brand known for its LEGO-like structure and minimalist designs. The exhibit also ventures into Minecraft, the popular video game launched in 2009 by Swedish designer Marcus “Notch” Persson. "Northern Lights" certainly has a little something for everyone.
