Back to Modern − Graphic Design from West-Germany

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
Starts 3/8Reservation Required
The modernist design philosophy and innovative art education methods of the Bauhaus, established in Germany in 1919, had an enormous global influence until the school’s closure in 1933. After World War II ended in 1945, Germany was partitioned into East and West. In West Germany, the Ulm School of Design (1953-1968) was founded with the goal of carrying on the legacy and principles of the Bauhaus. Despite closing just 15 years later, the school significantly advanced design theory and practice, and left an enduring impact on design education.

By the late 1950s West Germany ranked second globally in GNP (Gross National Product), an achievement known as the “economic miracle,” and graphic design, inextricably related to commerce, is cited as a factor in this success. Graphic design was also instrumental in defining the visual identity of major national events, including the 1972 Munich Olympics, the international sailing festival Kiel Week (Kieler Woche), and the contemporary art exhibition Documenta, held once every four or five years in Kassel.

This exhibition features a variety of works from the A5 Collection Düsseldorf, formed by the Dusseldorf-based graphic designer Jens Müller and Katharina Sussek. There is a particular focus on posters, selected from the perspectives of geometric abstraction, illustration, photography, and typography, which are accompanied by an array of works including booklets and magazines. We invite you to explore the world of West German graphic design, which, while rooted in the educational principles of the Bauhaus and the Ulm School of Design, ventured into new creative territory in the postwar era.

Schedule

Mar 8 (Sat) 2025-May 18 (Sun) 2025 

Reservation Required

Opening Hours Information

Hours
10:00-18:00
Until 20:00 on March 21, 22, 28 and 29.
Closed
Monday
Open on May 5.
Closed on May 7.
FeeAdults ¥1400; University Students ¥1120; High School and Junior High School Students, Seniors 65 & Over ¥700 Online reservation is recommended for the exhibition.
*Online reservation is recommended for the exhibition.
Websitehttps://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en/exhibition/250308-0518_backtomodern/
VenueTokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
https://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en/
Location5-21-9 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071
Access9 minute walk from exit 1 at Shirokanedai Station on the Toei Mita or Namboku line, 10 minute walk from the East exit of Meguro Station on the JR Yamanote line, 12 minute walk from the Main exit of Meguro Station on the Tokyu Meguro line.
Phone050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)
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