M7, under the umbrella of Qatar Museums, in partnership with the Vitra Design Museum in Germany is bringing one of the world’s most important collections of furniture design to Doha with the exhibition Masterpieces of Furniture Design, on view from 8 September through 9 December 2023. Curated by the Vitra Design Museum Director Dr. Mateo Kries, the exhibition explores the evolution of more than 200 years of design through 52 iconic pieces of modern furniture from the museum’s renowned collection, which dates from the 18th century through today.
The exhibition will feature works from the most influential names in modern design such as Le Corbusier, Charles and Ray Eames, Florence Knoll, Alvar Aalto, Charlotte Perriand, Marcel Breuer, and Virgil Abloh, among others.
“M7 is excited to present Masterpieces of Furniture Design, bringing one of the world’s most iconic collections of furniture design to Doha” said Maha Ghanim Al Sulaiti, Director of M7. “We are thrilled to be working with the Vitra Design Museum to bring this important exhibition for the first time in our region. We look forward to the general public and creatives alike to see the evolution of furniture design that have shaped our daily lives.”
“Furniture is closer to us than most other objects in our lives; it is an everyday companion”, said Dr. Mateo Kries, Director of the Vitra Design Museum. “Masterpieces of Furniture Design highlights key objects from the Vitra Design Museum collection. Featuring iconic design classics as well as lesser-known works, it sets a special focus on expanding the canon of design by calling attention to female designers and non-Western creators. As Qatar’s home for innovation and entrepreneurship in design, fashion, and technology, M7 is an ideal location for these stories and this collection to be shared.”
Masterpieces of Furniture Design explores a number of styles and artistic concepts ranging from Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, Organic Design, Pop, Scandinavian and Italian Postwar Modernism, and Postmodernism, as well as the influence of the digital era on furniture. It also underscores the various purposes of design, from solving technical and constructive challenges to creating beauty and inspiration in everyday environments. All objects featured in the exhibition are early original versions that reflect the initial design idea behind each piece. Exhibition highlights include Wassily armchair by Marcel Breuer, Broom chair by Philippe Starck, Panton Chair by Verner Panton, Tulip Chair by Eero Saarinen, The Egg chair by Arne Jacobsen, MR 10/2 by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Eileen Gray’s E 1027 Side Table, Mesa table designed by Zaha Hadid and Patrick Schumacher and Carlton by Ettore Sottsass, co-founder of the Memphis collective. In addition, M7 will display an assortment of exquisite pieces of furniture made by local designers in homage to the exhibition.
Masterpieces of Furniture Design is grouped according to seven principles and explores themes that define excellence in design: Innovating Crafts and Technologies, Designing Sustainability, Learning from Nature, Comfort Zones, The Social Questions, Less is More, and Dialogues between Art and Design. An archival section features prototypes, material samples, drawings, posters, and other documents from the Vitra Design Museum that provide background information about the inspirations and design processes behind the exhibits. For additional context, large-scale images will depict the works in the historical setting for which they were created or in which they were presented for the first time.
The exhibition is accompanied by the Atlas of Furniture Design, the most comprehensive overview on the history of modern furniture design. The second edition of the iconic publication will be on display at the reading corner of the exhibition and will be available to purchase at the gift shop. The book, which exceeds 1000 pages in length, is the product of over 20 years of research documenting 1740 objects by more than 540 designers and features more than 2800 illustrations. Key designs are analysed in some 550 texts, while in-depth essays on four historical epochs describe the sociocultural and design-historical context of the objects.
Complimenting Masterpieces of Furniture Design, the presenting sponsor, Al Mana Maples will host Miniatures Exhibition in Msheireb Doha Design District. The exhibition will feature 100 Classical Seats in exact 1:6 miniature replicas and is intended to convey the significance of design and the role it plays in the industrial production process. Al Mana Maples will also be showcasing a small-scale roadshow, The Original Comes from Vitra which will be shown at M7’s creative learning space. The exhibition is part of an international roadshow behind iconic Vitra classic and contemporary products through dynamic storytelling. The original products include the Standard chair designed by Jean Prouve, the Landi Chair by Hans Coray, and the iconic Lounge Chair by Charles and Ray Eames.
Also accompanying the exhibition, M7 will be delivering a robust roster of public programmes to engage the general public tailored specifically for creatives that will run across the duration of the exhibition. Programmes will include public conversations, masterclasses, workshops, and special tours. The yearly Zwara programme will begin in tandem with Masterpieces of Furniture Design, where participating designers will draw inspiration from the exhibition and respond to a design prompt.
Masterpieces of Furniture Design will run from 8 September until 9 December 2023.
ABOUT VITRA DESIGN MUSEUM
The internationally renowned Vitra Design Museum is dedicated to the research and presentation of design, past and present, examining its relationship to architecture, art and everyday culture. The museum annually mounts two major temporary exhibitions in its main building, designed by architect Frank Gehry. Smaller shows are presented in the Vitra Design Museum Gallery, often following a more contemporary and experimental approach. The Vitra Schaudepot, with architecture by Herzog & de Meuron, is dedicated to presenting the museum’s growing furniture collection. Displaying approximately 400 key objects from the collection, it represents one of the largest permanent collections and research sites on modern furniture design world-wide. Often developed in collaboration with influential designers, many of the museum's exhibitions cover contemporary themes, such as future technologies, sustainability, mobility and social responsibility. Others explore aspects of the history of design or present survey shows on iconic designers.
ABOUT QATAR MUSEUMS
Qatar Museums (QM), the nation's preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves, restores, and expands the nation's cultural offerings and historical sites, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, educate and encourage environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, and amplify the voices of Qatar's people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the Museum of Islamic Art and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar, which is currently under development.
Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival and the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design M7—that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.
ABOUT M7
M7 is Qatar’s epicentre for innovation and entrepreneurship in fashion and design. Established by Qatar Museums under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, M7 is committed to accelerating the growth of Qatar’s creative economy by providing mentorship and opportunities for designers to build a successful business both locally and internationally, while encouraging the fashion and design industry to play their part in the growth of Qatar’s creative circular ecosystem. M7’s platforms include comprehensive incubation and mentorship programmes, world-class exhibitions and pop-ups, and public discussions. Located at the heart of Msheireb Downtown Doha, M7 serves to create a space for creatives by working closely with its Resident Partners, Cutting Studio, Studio 7, Scale 7, Fromm, Workinton and Profiles.
ABOUT QATAR CREATES
Qatar Creates curates, celebrates, and promotes cultural activities within Qatar.
Working with partners in museums, film, fashion, hospitality, cultural heritage, performing arts, and the private sector in Qatar, the Qatar Creates platform amplifies the voice of Qatar’s creative industries, directly connecting audiences to events.
ABOUT ALMANA MAPLES
Almana Maples a major subsidiary of Almana Group, established as the furnishing division within the Group providing full fit out and FF&E services from complete and detailed interior design concept to execution and turn key projects.
Almana Maples portfolio is carefully selected and representing the most prestigious brands in the furniture industry, as the sole distributor of brands that are considered icons in the world of furniture and design; Vitra, Minotti, SieMatic, Rimadesio, Poliform, Cassina, Gallotti & Radice, Moooi and USM.
CONTACT
Lolwa Al Malki – M7 Communications Coordinator
lalmalki@qm.org.qa
+974 5005 0725
Alli Steinberg, Polskin Arts
alli.steinberg@finnpartners.com
+1 212 583 2754