Having first received attention during the nineteen-nineties for its avant-garde approach, Dutch design reflected the changing values of the times in which large numbers of people have become uncomfortable with the mass-consumer society, and it is now recognized as the world leader in design trends. It presents a new set of values that are the opposite of the twentieth century concept of design which pursued amenity and functionality.

Often described as conceptual, Dutch design is both affirmative and respectful of human life, it is based on an awareness of contemporary problems, such as ‘the environment and consumption’, ‘urban and social systems’, and ‘the continuation of history and culture’, while questioning our choices for the future. In this exhibition we will feature the work of artists/designers whose work questions the relationship between people and objects or interpersonal communications, such as designers Ted Noten (contemporary jewelry), Maarten Baas (product design), and artists Martijn Engelbregt and Tomoko Take. Their works can be said to act as a catalyst, bringing about a dynamic chemical transformation in our attitudes to life. Including some of their most recent works, this exhibition presents the latest trends in the essence of Dutch art and design in which the imagination becomes naturally enlarged through the surprise and humor they express.

* The text provided by Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT).

Opened dates: October 29, 2010 - January 30, 2011