Opening Norm=Form at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

Opening Norm=Form at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

07.05.2010

The exhibition Norm=Form has been officially opened with speeches by Benno Tempel, Timo de Rijk, Ed Annink and Henk Kool.

Benno Tempel, director of the museum, was pleased with the presence of Henk Kool, Alderman of social affairs, employment and economy. Design, especially mass produced, does not only consider culture as well as economy and industry. The fact that the exhibition is taking place at his museum also pleases him: "An exhibition about standardisation and design could not take place at a more appropriate place, then within the Berlage museum." The building is based on a grid of 1,10 meter, with walls, columns, windows and bricks that would never have to be shortened. Thanks to the efficient construction the entire museum was built within two years. For this exhibition only, walls where removed from the treasure rooms that were not original to Berlage's design.

Timo de Rijk, design historic and curator of the exhibition, gave a short lecture about standardisation and design starting off with the A4. Only imagine what it would be like if this standard was not introduced at the beginning of the century. And thanks to Napoleon we now measure millimeters, centimeters and meters. In Great Britain they still use their yard that, according to stories is based on the distance between the tip of King Henry I's nose and the tip of his middle finger with a stretched arm. The exhibition includes measuring sticks to see the size of a foot as follows: one from the Netherlands, a smaller one from Portugal, and another larger one from Germany. The T-Ford, is also an example of a standardised product. By introducing standard parts and the assembly line, the car became affordable for the public, for only 250 dollar. Several decades later, the success of the T Model was overtaken by a luxurious car that was all about form, the LaSalle.

Ed Annink, next to being initiator and intendant of The Hague Design and Government, also was responsible for the design of the exhibition. This design is, how else could it be in relation to the subject, based on a grid. Products from the past and present, from art-museums like the Pomidou in Paris and products form the supermarket around the corner and divided over 28 evenly shaped, white stages. The backsides of the stages are painted in colours chosen in co-operation with Sikkens; popular colours from before, now and expected for the future. The exhibition Norm=Form will  move to Zeche Zollerein in Essen, Germany, as part of RUHR.2010, where it will stand out in a completely different, industrial hall without any walls.
The first copy of the book published with the exhibition, was presented by Ed Annink, to Alderman Henk Kool.

The 250 guests stayed, after seeing the exhibition, for a long chat and drinks at the grand café.

The exhibition will be open until August 15 at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag.