A nuanced gaze into the world of graphic design is showcased within Masse und Klasse: Graphic Design in the GDR, which offers the viewer a look into the array of commercial design regarding books, periodicals, phonograph records, packaging, posters and advertising, all of which shaped the visual environment of East Germany. The examination of typeface, material, colour and image manifests within the exhibition, posing the question of which traits and qualities, or references to international trends, can we discern?
The exhibition investigates the potentials and limitations of graphic design in East Germany, for example, the fact that the East German book and poster design was met with appreciation at home and abroad but the minimal styling was widely considered ineffective when the aesthetic was reinterpreted for domestic goods. Masse und Klasse: Graphic Design in the GDR thus presents the distinguishing properties of selected consumer sector designs and examines them for themes which potentially contributed to the success or defeat.
Masse und Klasse: Graphic Design in the GDR is being held at the Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge in Berlin, Germany from March 17th 2016 until August 29th 2016. Accompanying the exhibition will be a series of lectures, panel discussions and events.
- Kristina Suvorova - March 27, 2017
- Andrés Gallardo Albajar - March 21, 2017
- Marietta Varga - March 14, 2017
