Scandinavian Design & USA

Transatlantic relationships: a look at the extensive design exchanges between the United States and the Nordic countries This edition differs itself from the DelMonico – American edition; there are mostly Nordic writers. The exhibition, Scandinavian Design & USA – People, Encounters and Ideas, 1890–1980, is produced by Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Milwaukee Art Museum, together with Nasjonal museet, Oslo and Nationalmuseum From the publisher: Scandinavian Design & USA – människor, möten och idéer,1890 –1980 undersöker hur idéer och design från Norden påverkat amerikansk materiell kultur, samt omvänt, hur influenser från USA har påverkat nordisk design. Teman som utforskas är migration och kulturarv, diplomati och handel, utbildning och professionella utbyten samt design för en socialt och materiellt hållbar framtid. ---English: For the first time, the relationship between Scandinavian and American design in the 20th century is the subject of an exhibition. Nationalmuseum is proud to present Scandinavian Design & USA – People, Encounters and Ideas, 1890–1980, the product of extensive international collaboration and new research. Through a uniquely curated set of artifacts drawn from collections in the United States and Scandinavia, visitors can learn about the trends that shaped the design aesthetic, identity and philosophy that we encounter to this day. Among the topics examined are the significance of Scandinavian emigration and the large-scale marketing campaigns for Scandinavian Design in the United States in the 1950s. The exhibition also considers the role played by design as a tool of international diplomacy. Discover how transatlantic relationships between Scandinavia and the United States became central to cultural heritage on both sides of the pond. Take a trip through design history produced by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Milwaukee Art Museum in association with Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo, and Nationalmuseum, Stockholm. When it was coined in the 1950s and promoted worldwide, the term Scandinavian Design referred to contemporary design from the Nordic countries. In the political and economic spheres, the concept became a brand embodying the traditions, culture, natural heritage and democratic values of Scandinavia. Although genuine to a certain extent, the concept is contentious, and the exhibition reveals a multifaceted design history reaching back much farther. Examples that stand out include airline advertisements featuring a Viking, the industrial design of new household goods, and finely crafted silverware for the new cocktail culture. Other examples that illustrate the widespread appeal of the concept include interior furnishings for the United Nations headquarters and upscale private residences, and car interiors featuring woven textiles.