The exhibition "Dutch Modern Design: Rietveld, Bruna, and ADO" will run from September 17 to November 23 at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery in Hatsudai, Tokyo. This exhibition explores Dutch design culture, deeply rooted in everyday life, and its humanistic appeal from the perspectives of three figures who had a profound influence on 20th-century design: Utrecht-born architect Gerrit Thomas Rietveld; Dick Bruna, known for the Miffy children's book series; and Co Verzoo, designer behind the ADO toy series, a national favorite in the Netherlands. The exhibition will feature furniture, including early versions of Rietveld's classic Red Blue Chair and his signature Zigzag and Steltman Chairs. In addition, the exhibition will also feature important materials, such as Rietveld's own furniture and architectural models, blueprints, sketches, color drawings, and archival photographs. The exhibition will also focus on the formative stages of Bruna's design through his paperback cover designs and posters, as well as his distinctive picture book production process through the original illustrations of his early picture books, such as "Little Bunny at the Zoo" (first edition, 1955). Furthermore, the exhibition will present the full scope of Bruna's Dutch design toy series, ADO, for the first time in Japan, with a diverse lineup of furniture, vehicles, building blocks, and other items, along with rare archival photographs. Other related materials, including photographs, videos, and publications, will also be on display. The total number of exhibits is expected to exceed 400. The exhibition will travel to the Oita Prefectural Art Museum from December 2nd to January 22nd, 2017.
【Event Information】
"Dutch Modern Design: Rietveld/Bruna/ADO"
Venue: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
Dates: September 17th - November 23rd
Time: 11:00 - 19:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: 1,200 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for university and high school students, free for junior high school students and younger
Closed: Mondays (if a public holiday falls on Monday, the following Tuesday will be closed)