EXPLORES THE INTIMATE LINKS BETWEEN SCIENCE FICTION AND DESIGN
Both children of the industrial age, design and science fiction have constantly inspired one another. This fruitful union is explored at the venerable Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany, in the exhibition "Science Fiction Design: From Space Age to Metaverse," on view until May 11, 2025.
It was at the beginning of the 19th century that what would later be called science fiction was born. It appeared in the works of Mary Shelley and Jules Verne, as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution. This genre explored profoundly human concerns, such as love, death, and war, but through the lens of new worlds and the risks and opportunities brought about by new technologies. This unique universe also permeated a new art form, cinema, notably with Georges Méliès's iconic film A Trip to the Moon, released in 1902. It can also be found in graphic arts, literature, and the world of comics, which were gaining popularity at the time. This galaxy of anticipation became a reality in the 1950s with the launch of the first satellites into space, inspiring post-war designers. Among them are Eero Aarnio, Joe Colombo, Gae Aulenti, and Verner Panton, who create environments with organic silhouettes using gleaming plastic, freely embracing the boundless imaginations of these creatives. Futuristic looks, but also a total reinvention of lifestyles.
This new aesthetic grammar then found its way onto the big screen. In 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Olivier Mourgue's Djinn made their appearance, Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Argyle Chair featured in Blade Runner (1982), Eero Aarnio's Tomato Chair was glimpsed in Men in Black (1997), Marc Newson's Orgone Chair was revealed in Prometheus (2012), Pierre Paulin's Ribbon Chair appeared in Blade Runner 2049 (2017)...
A new musical language is being reinvented today with the resurgence of space exploration. Can we speak of a second Space Age, now that the boundaries of creation are being pushed even further with computer-aided design and 3D printing? In any case, these new techniques are giving rise to new designs, as evidenced by Joris Laarman's Aluminium Gradient Chair, the very first chair made of printed metal. Another key player in this microcosm is the metaverse, "which, for a new generation of young designers, seems to be evolving towards what the cosmos represented in the 1960s: a new space for projections and experimentation, a place of free thought that can be filled with new ideas and experiments," explains the museum team.
A long and rich saga, recounted by Argentinian designer Andrés Reisinger, who conceived the exhibition's design. This creative mind first gained recognition in 2018 for his Hortensia armchair, initially developed as an NFT (Network Function Technology) before being produced as a physical piece of furniture. In addition to showcasing this significant achievement in design history, the designer has selected around one hundred pieces, drawn directly from the museum's collections, as well as others from the worlds of cinema, literature, and even virtual worlds. These universes offer ample scope for experimentation and projection.
“SCIENCE FICTION DESIGN: FROM SPACE AGE TO METAVERSE”
VITRA DESIGN MUSEUM
CHARLES-EAMES-STR. 2, WEIL-AM-RHEIN (GERMANY)
UNTIL MAY 11, 2025
DESIGN-MUSEUM.DE
