Postmodernism, Style & Subversion 1970–1990 Exhibition Graphics

Evolving from the ideas of Modernism of the early 19th century, Postmodernism was a radical reaction to simplicity. Always resisting a straightforward explanation, it encompasses a wide range of practices from graphic design to philosophy, and everything in-between. For the V&A exhibition we wanted to reflect on this extensive variety without directly pastiching previous works. Utilising supergraphic reproductions as towering billboards on the walls. Neon lighting evocative of the reoccurring vision architects held for future city landscapes. And a labeling system held in place with patterned elastic bands of Memphis reproductions placed on top of bright coloured perspex, which varied between each of the 3 rooms.

→ Link to Project

Drawing Fashion

Exhibition Graphics

This exhibition charted the work of the most important fashion illustrators from the 1920s to the present day. APFEL collaborated with architects Carmody Groarke to design a space that would create a subtle backdrop to the fine works on paper. The existing gallery space was transformed by a series of curved, white paper walls, and the exhibition lighting was placed within the structure to create a soft, ambient environment. The graphics, inspired by early 20th century Vogue, were mounted as white texts on the reverse of the translucent walls, as unobtrusive narratives to the exhibition and works.

→ Link to Project

Bauhaus: Art as Life Exhibition Design

Situated in the Barbican Art Gallery, Bauhaus: Art as Life is the largest exhibition focusing on the iconic art school to be held in the UK for almost 40 years. We collaborated with Carmody Groarke to design an installation of elemental forms, reinterpreting the spacial structure of the gallery to create a bespoke viewing experience for exhibition visitors. Graphically, the design is informed by an awareness of the Bauhaus’ own principles of colour, structure and typography – painted walls, bold panels and supergraphics draw together objects, themes and ideas, and the typeface used throughout is a contemporary revival of the letterpress typeface used within the Bauhaus itself, Breite Grotesk.

→ Link to Project

Dirt

Exhibition Graphics

This fascinating exhibition of historical artefacts and contemporary film and literature explored the unusual subject of ‘dirt’, our relationship with it in the past, and how we plan to deal with it in the future. The graphic scheme took on the characteristics of dirt; the entire entrance wall was covered with flocking to emulate a splattering of muck, typographic elements throughout the show were formed out of flock Fibers which closely resembled a hoover bag’s contents, and painted aluminium panels were screenprinted with the exhibition texts providing a contrasting feel of cleanliness.

→ Link to Project

Linder: Femme/Objet
Exhibition

The exhibition Linder: Femme/Objet opened in February 2013 at the Musee d’art Moderne de la Ville De Paris, and is the first such survey of the breadth and depth of Linder’s creative practice to be held in Paris. It traces the development of the artist’s work, spanning photography, collage, performance, music and installation-based artworks.

Our design for the exhibition was product of a year-long working relationship between APFEL and Linder. We worked together with Linder and architects Carmody Groarke to create an immersive installation within the gallery which led visitors first through the dark seediness of Seventies Manchester, with its industrial smoke stacks and cross-dresser bars, to the brighter and more saturated world of her collages, lightboxes and performance art.

Supergraphics and blacked-out neon signage were used throughout the show, and the gallery spaces are bisected by curving fabric curtains which allude to the ‘Cottonopolis’ of Manchester’s history and its once-thriving fabric trade. These curtains also offer layered glimpses of the exhibition’s different sections, playing upon the ideas of obstruction and alternate viewpoints within Linder’s work, and act as screens for video projections of her art and music performances within the space.

→ Link to Project