Designer Jonathan Muecke (American, born 1983) challenges and redefines relationships between form and functionality, spatial perception and materiality. Objects in Sculpture, the designer’s first solo exhibition at a major museum, presents a selection of his most experimental works from the past decade.
Whether working in steel, textiles, wood, or composites, Muecke maintains a consistent goal: to produce objects that challenge our spatial expectations and habits, prompting us to experience our physical environments—and understand our place within them—anew. His singular design practice explores the limits of an object by eliminating details, distilling it to its essence through precise, spare lines and evocative shapes.
Defying traditional design typologies and expectations of practicality, the resulting objects are curious and enigmatic, but also familiar: a rock with holes; a faceted curvature of carbon fiber felt; a five-sided, open box made of steel; a textile volume with concave surfaces; a continuous, multitiered wooden zig-zag. Interactions with the works hinge on “not knowing what you are looking at,” while also “knowing what you are looking at,” according to Muecke. “You are knowledgeable and ignorant at the same time.”
Jonathan Muecke: Objects in Sculpture is the fourth edition of the Franke/Herro Design Series, which highlights the work of important emerging talent. The exhibition is curated by Irene Sunwoo, PhD (John H. Bryan Chair and Curator, Architecture and Design), and was conceived by Zoë Ryan, Daniel W. Dietrich, II Director at the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania.
| Hours | Monday, Thursday to Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Venue | The Art Institute of Chicago |
| Type | Design Exhibition |
| Duration | 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| City | Chicago |
About
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago was founded as both a museum and school for the fine arts in 1879, a critical era in the history of Chicago as civic energies were devoted to rebuilding the metropolis that had been destroyed by the Great Fire of 1871. The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with Chicago and the world. The Institute collects, cares for, and interprets works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. The Institute recognizes that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. It is a place of gathering; fostering the exchange of ideas and inspiring an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity. Photography: The Art Institute of Chicago. Ando Gallery. Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago.
