[Art Exhibition 2024 #55] Poul Kjærholm Exhibition at Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
Dates: June 29 (Sat) – September 16 (Mon/Holiday), 2024
Chairs are among the most familiar tools in our daily lives. While their forms are designed to pursue the rational function of sitting, they also possess an autonomous beauty akin to sculptural works. Chairs created by outstanding architects and designers of the last century, in particular, have permeated our culture as timeless masterpieces, and interest in them has been growing in recent years.
Poul Kjærholm (1929–1980), featured in this exhibition, is a leading furniture designer of 20th-century Denmark. When one thinks of mid-century Nordic furniture, one might imagine designs with warm wood tones. However, Kjærholm’s hallmark lies in his rigorous designs that combine hard materials like stone and metal, which was rare at the time. Despite this, his furniture never feels cold; instead, it brings a pleasant sense of tension to the spaces where it is placed. Kjærholm’s work, condensed into timeless, minimal, and clean forms, resonates well with Japanese architecture and continues to be strongly supported by enthusiasts in Japan.
This exhibition is the first in a Japanese museum to cover Kjærholm’s major works, focusing on the collection of Noritsugu Oda (Professor Emeritus at Tokai University), who has been researching and collecting chairs for many years. With the cooperation of Higashikawa Town in Hokkaido, which houses the Oda Collection, we will present approximately 50 pieces of furniture and related materials. Visitors can enjoy Kjærholm’s design philosophy and the sophisticated beauty of his furniture forms, presented through an exhibition layout by the up-and-coming architect Tsuyoshi Tane (ATTA).
An exhibition based on the Oda Collection, famous for its masterpiece chairs.
This year, there was also an exhibition of masterpiece chairs from the Oda Collection at Nihombashi Takashimaya. ↓
Poul Kjærholm’s chairs and benches are used in many art museums and museums.
The one seen most frequently is the PK80.
PK80
Designer: Poul Kjærholm
Released: 1957
Manufacturer: FRITZ HANSEN
Price: ¥2,923,800 (as of July 2024)
In my [Masterpiece Chairs in Art Museums] magazine, this is a masterpiece among masterpieces that is already familiar.
Just to name a few, it is used in the Tokyo National Museum Main Building, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, The National Art Center, Tokyo, Suntory Museum of Art, Kyoto National Museum, MOA Museum of Art, and many other art museums and museums.
With its low seat and firm comfort, it is a magical bench that naturally blends into any setting while beautifully coloring the space.
The exhibition layout was designed by architect Tsuyoshi Tane, but unfortunately, photography is not allowed.
By placing the chairs on display pedestals, they are shown as 'works of art' rather than just 'chairs.'
Thanks to this, the viewpoint is higher, allowing for close observation of the structure and detailed craftsmanship that are usually not visible from the angle at which one looks down at a chair.
When one thinks of the Nordic region, especially Denmark, one first thinks of wooden furniture like that of Hans J. Wegner, but Poul Kjærholm stands apart from them.
During his time at the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts, he studied under Hans J. Wegner and joined FRITZ HANSEN after graduation.
Later, he became independent and released a series of steel masterpieces.
Tracing the transition of his work, which is displayed in chronological order, one can clearly see his trial and error.
It is also interesting to feel his human side, as some designs seem structurally impossible or are (in my opinion) not particularly attractive.
It turns out it wasn't just perfect models like the PK80 or PK22.
There were a few rooms where photography was permitted.
Discovery of the idea sketch that became the source of the "Panton Chair" plagiarism controversy.
In 1967, a controversy arose. Regarding the "Panton Chair," which he designed as the world's first single-piece plastic molded chair and which was released by Vitra, Poul Kjærholm claimed it was a plagiarism of his own work. Panton did not refute this, and the truth remains uncertain to this day.
The shapes are certainly very similar.
It seems Panton began thinking about the design in the late 1950s, but Kjærholm's idea sketch is dated 1953.
Since it is a simple shape, it is not impossible that they could end up similar without knowing, but... still.
At the "Rouault Gallery," one could freely sit on Kjærholm's masterpiece chairs.
FRITZ HANSENI assume they are receiving current models from them.
Personally, I overwhelmingly prefer the "PK22" in both appearance and comfort.
The stoic thinness and tension when viewed from the side are irresistibly cool.
PK22
Designer: Poul Kjærholm
Released: 1956
Manufacturer: FRITZ HANSEN
Aura leather Price: ¥822,800 (as of July 2024)
Poul Kjærholm's representative chair.
It is said to be an homage to Mies van der Rohe's "Barcelona Chair," but personally, I prefer the size, comfort, and silhouette of the "PK22" over the "Barcelona Chair."
The National Art Center, Tokyo has many "PK22" chairs installed along with the "PK80."
It is a famous story that Kashiwa Sato himself is a frequent user of many Poul Kjærholm pieces.
As a chair enthusiast, I had been looking forward to this exhibition.
Poul Kjærholm's work is found in many art museums and galleries, so even if you don't know his name, many of you have likely sat in one of his chairs.
Furthermore, not limited to Kjærholm, art museums and galleries often place masterpieces of modern design history as furniture that visitors can actually sit on.
When you go out, I hope you will enjoy these masterpiece chairs by referring to my [Masterpiece Chairs in Art Museums].(Self-promotion)
[Masterpiece Chairs in Art Museums] Summary Magazine ↓
[Art Exhibition 2024] Summary Magazine ↓
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