Art & Art History
Posters to Postage Stamps: An Exhibition of Contemporary Dutch Design
Posters to Postage Stamps: An Exhibition of Contemporary Dutch Design highlights over one hundred printed objects produced during the last ten years (1976-86) by a group of Dutch designers. These included Jan van Toorn, Anton Beeke, Wim Crouwel, Gert Dumbar, Ko Sliggers and others. The material was of special interest to Chicago designers in particular because of the Modernist Bauhaus heritage shared by the Americans and Dutch alike. Stylistically, this work enlivens the simple typefaces and angular layouts, characteristic of early Bauhaus designs, with visual puns, commercial art techniques and decorative patterns.
Dutch graphic designers, tougher and more socially conscious than their American New Wave counterparts, became trendsetters on the European and American art scene. This exhibition, featuring posters, stationary, catalogs, postage stamps, calendars, record jackets, magazines, brochures and other printed items, documented the range and imaginative vitality of Dutch design. The exhibition mapped out the two poles of Dutch design in the mid-1980s: the rational, minimalist tendencies of Total Design, on the one hand, and the more radical, image-oriented work of Hard Werken, a Rotterdam studio, on the other. Posters to Postage Stamps also documented the taste-making role in the Netherlands of cultural institutions and the Dutch postal service (PTT): the “look” of museum catalogs, postage stamps and bank notes was adopted by private industry for advertising campaigns and corporate publications.
The core of the Gallery 400 show came from the collection of Katherine McCoy, Professor of Design at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. The pieces from her collection were organized into an exhibition by Ms. McCoy and Doug Kisor of the Eastern Michigan University Department of Art (shown at Eastern Michigan University and Carnegie-Mellon University). Gallery 400 added further materials, a mini-exhibition focusing on the production of Hard Werken of Rotterdam, in consultation with Dutch designer Kees de Gruiter and Victor Margolin, UIC Professor of Design History. A poster designed by Hard Werken and produced by Gallery 400 publicized the show and extended the collaboration between the gallery and the design firm.
A lecture by Victor Margolin on contemporary Dutch design in an historical context complemented the exhibition, as did a talk by Katherine McCoy at the Graham Foundation.
EXHIBITION CHECKLIST
Anthon Beeke
Beeke ev van Bree, 1980
Stationary, 8 3/10 x 11 7/10 in.
Marilyn, Szenen der 50 ger Jahre, 1982
Poster, 23 1/2 x 33 in.
Plakate, Affiches, Plakaty, 1982
Poster, 33 x 23 1/2 in.
Anthon Beeke, Marjan Gerritse
Kunstschrift, 1982
Magazine, 11 x 8 5/8 in.
Threatened Animals, 1985
Stamp.
Hans Bockting, Will de l’Ecluse, Rik Comello, Lex van Pieterson
A broken Glass can’t be hurt, 1984
Calendar, 11 1/2 x 17 3/4 in.
Rik Comello
Architektenassociatie BV, 1982
Invitation, 12 3/4 x 13 5/8 in.
Atlas van Nederland, 1984
Form, 8 3/10 x 11 7/10 in.
Once Upon a Time, 1984
Poster, 35 x 23 1/2 in.
Concepts
Concepts, 1982
Stationery, 8 3/10 x 11 7/10 in.
Concepts: Hans Bockting
Werkcentrum Dans PM, 1982
Poster, 22 1/2 x 32 3/8 in.
Concepts: Will de l’Ecluse and Hans Bockting
Concepts Vormgeverassociatie, 1983
Brochure, 11 5/8 x 38 1/4 in.
Concepts: Denise Ghering
Design/87 Amsterdam, 1985
Poster, 23 1/4 x 16 1/2 in.
Prof. Wim Crouwel
de Stijl, 1983
Stamp.
Jaap Drupsteen
Europe, 1983
Stamp.
Europe, 1985
Stamp.
Gielijn Escher
Europe, 1985
Stamp.
Hard Werken
Danproduktie Feuilleton (3)
Poster, 24 1/4 x 16 1/2 in.
Hard Werken: Gerard Hadders
Dansproduktie Even
Poster, 33 x 23 1/4 in.
MOOI Meegenomen, 1985
Poster, 32 3/4 x 46 1/2 in.
VVV (touristinformation) and Hoge Veluwe ( national park), 1985
Stamp.
Hard Werken: Henk Remt Elenga, Helen Howard, William Kars, Tom van den Haspel, Gerard Hadders, Janwillen de Kok, Rock Vermeulen
Hardwerken 10, 1982
Magazine, 15 x 11 1/4 in.
Hard Werken, Studio Dumbar
Ohrendierenbaby!, 1984
Record, record jacket, 7 1/4 x 7 in.
Karel Kruijsen
Collectie Becht, 1984
Poster, 16 5/8 x 23 3/8 in.
Keramiek, 1985
Poster, 16 1/2 x 23 1/2 in.
Keramiek in de Beyerd, 1983
Poster, 16 1/2 x 28 in.
Karel Martens
European Parliament, 1984
Stamp.
Paul Mijksenaar
Spruijt’s Kalender 1981-82, 1981
Calendar, 11 3/4 x 11 1/8 in.
Spruijt’s Kalender 1982-83, 1982
Calendar, 11 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.
Kees Nieuwenhuijzen
Luther, 1983
Stamp.
Walter Nikkels
Occupation and Liberation, 1980
Stamp.
Occupation and Liberation, 1980
Stamp.
Wild Plakken: Frank Beekersm Lies Ros and Rob Schroder
Children-stamps, 1985
Stamp.
Ko Sliggers
Kunstuitleen, 1982
Brochure.
RWD Fassbinder’s Bremer Freiheit, 1984
Poster, 29 1/2 x 19 3/4 in.
Vormgeving Theater ’80, 1980
Poster, 23 5/8 x 34 1/4 in.
Wegens Caraval
Invitation, 7 7/8 x 7 7/8 in.
Ko Sliggers, Ton Homburg
Architectuur in de Oude Bibliotheek te Rotterdam, 1984
Poster, 23 5/8 x 34 1/4 in.
Architectuur in de Oude Bibliotheek te Rotterdam, 1984
Poster, 34 3/4 x 23 1/2 in.
Ko Sliggers, Geert Setola
Drukkerij Bykorf BV, 1982
Brochure, 11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in.
Studio Dumbar
ANWB Identity Standard Manual, 1984-85
12 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.
Beelden aan de Linge, 1984
Poster, 29 x 20 in.
Colorado, 1984
Poster, 30 3/4 x 20 1/2 in.
Controle, Controle 7
Poster, 32 1/2 x 46 in.
De Stijl: Visions of Utopia, 1982
Poster, 32 3/4 x 46 1/4 in.
De Stijl: Visions of Utopia, 1982
Poster, 32 3/4 x 46 1/4 in.
Energiegebruik, 1982
Brochure, 11 5/8 x 8 1/4 in.
Hogaku Traditionele, 1984
Poster, 27 3/4 x 19 3/4 in.
Mei 2 opening & 2/3 mei feest, 1980
Invitation, 8 1/4 x 5 3/4 in.
Netherlands/USA, 200 Years of Relations, 1982
Poster, 32 5/8 x 45 1/2 in
PTT Identity Standards Manual, 1980
19 3/8 x 8 1/4 in.
Quadrio, 1985
Poster, 30 1/2 x 35 in.
Sandwich, 1985
Poster, 39 x 27 in.
Studio Dumbar, 1980
Stationery, 8 3/10 x 11 7/10 in.
Studio Dumbar: Sabine Bosman
Symposium aard warmte, 1983
Poster, 23 1/4 x 33 in.
Studio Dumbar: Michel de Boer
Kerk in verandering, 1983
Poster, 22 x 31 3/4 in.
Lamp, 1982
Poster, 38 x 30 1/2 in
Studio Dumbar: Michel de Boer, Rok Comello
PTT sociaal jaarverslag 1981, 1982
Annual Report, 11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in.
Studio Dumbar: Els Haasen, Ko Sliggers
Architektuurwandelingen Den Haag #7
Poster, 25 x 18 1/2 in.
Studio Dumbar: Hank Hoebe, Ko Sliggers
Architektuurwandelingen Den Haag #6
Poster, 25 x 18 1/2 in.
Studio Dumbar: Henk Hoebe
Aquarellen, 1983
Poster, 19 3/4 x 27 1/2 in.
Studio Dumbar: Ton Homburg
Dutch Design for the Public Sector, 1974
33 x 37 in.
Studio Dumbar: Berry van Gerber, Ko Sliggers
Architektuurwandelingen Den Haag #8
Poster, 25 x 18 1/2 in.
Joost Swarte
Kinderpostzegel, 1984
Stamp.
Tel Design: Gert Dumbar
Mondrian, 1972
Poster, 19 3/4 x 14 in.
Total Design
De nieuwe acceptgiro in kort bestek, 1984
Brochure, 7 1/4 x 3 1/8 in.
Total Design: Wim Crouwel
Het nieuwe bouwen Amsterdam, 1983
Poster, 22 3/4 x 31 in.
Het nieuwe bouwen i Rotterdam 1920-1960, 1982
Poster, 22 3/4 x 31 in.
Total Design: Wim Crouwel, Arlette Bouwers
’60 ’80 attitudes/concepts/images, 1982
Catalog, 10 3/4 x 8 in.
Total Design: Reynoud Homan, Frans Lieshout, Jelle van der Toorn Vrijthoff
Ontwerp: Total Design, 1983
Catalog, 11 1/4 x 11 in.
Total Design: Frans Lieshout
Oen W wisie, 1985
Magazine, 11 5/8 x 8 1/4 in.
Total Design: Paul Mijksenaar
Nederlands Verband van Grafische Ondernemingen, 1976
News release, 8 3/10 x 11 7/10 in.
Jan van Toorn
Dutch Art & Architecture Today, 1982
Magazine, 9 7/8 x 8 1/4 in.
January, August, December 1973, 1973
Calendar, 8 3/4 x 12 7/8 in.
Mens en Omgeving (1), 1981
Poster, 23 3/4 x 34. 7/10 in.
Mens en Omgeving (3), 1982
Poster, 23 3/4 x 34 7/10 in.
Museum in Motion, 1979
Book, 8 3/8 x 10 1/4 in.
Politicians, 1980
Stamp.
To Do With Nature, 1970
Catalog, 8 1/4 x 10 1/4 in.
Vorm Vijf
Teleguide, 1984
Brochure, 6 x 4 1/2 in.
Tussen Hollen en Stilstaan, 1981
Brochure, 11 7/10 x 8 1/4 in.
Uitidiging de Nieuwelijn, 1982
Handbill, 8 1/4 x 11 3/4 in.
Vorm Vijf, 1984-85
Folder, 10 1/4 x 10 1/4 in.
Vorm Vijf: Bart De Groot
Frans Ram, sculptor, 1984-85
Stationery, 8 3/10 x 11 7/10 in.
Vorm Vijf: Wout de Vringer
Jose Osorio Lobato, architect, 1984-85
Stationery, 9 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.
Vorm Vijf: Joop Ridder
PTT Telecommunicatie, 1984-85
Folder, 12 1/8 x 8 1/8 x 1/2 in.
Vorm Vijf: Aad van Dommelen
74 & 84 ontwerpen, 1984
Poster, 33 1/4 x 23 1/2 in.
Open Huis/Feest, 1984
Invitation, 22 1/4 x 4 1/4 in.
Xander Martijn, 1985
Invitation, 5 3/4 x 16 1/2 in.
Vorm Vijf: Henk van Keyden
Sauberen Hafenschlamm als Ziel, 1985
Brochure, 8 1/4 x 11 7/10 in.
Katherine McCoy (born 1945) along with her husband Mike McCoy, has been the Co-Chair of Cranbook Academy of Art’s Department of Design since 1971. She began her professional career working for Unimark International in 1967, and later went on to work at Chrysler Corporation and Omnigraphics, Inc. McCoy served as the President of the Industrial Design Society of America from 1983 to 1984. She was also honored to be the 1982 IBM Fellow of the International Design Conference at Aspen. McCoy recently juried the 1984 United States Presidential Design Awards.
McCoy studied industrial design at Michigan State University.
Doug Kisor is an artist whose interests include graphic design and Dutch contemporary art. He studied design at Michigan State University and Western Michigan University. Kisor’s graduate work included study in Switzerland and Italy. His experiences in each country greatly influence his work.
PRESS RELEASE
Posters to Postage Stamps: An Exhibition of Contemporary Dutch Design
Gallery 400
Chicago, IL
November 5- December 6, 1986
Opening Reception: Wednesday, November 5, 1986, 5-7 pm
“Posters to Postage Stamps” will include posters, catalogues, postage stamps, calendars, record jackets, brochures and other printed items that document the range and imaginative vitality of recent Dutch designs. The material is of special interest to Chicago designers because of the Modernist Bauhaus heritage shared by the two groups.
The exhibition will focus on two schools of current Dutch design: the rational, minimalist tendencies of the Total Design studio on one hand and the more radical, image-oriented work of Hard Worken, a Rotterdam studio.
The core of the Gallery 400 show is from the collection Katherine McCoy, professor of design at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and was organized into an exhibition by McCoy and Doug Kisor of the Eastern Michigan University Department of Art. Victor Margolin, assistant professor of design history at UIC is the advisor for the show.
McCoy will deliver a lecture complementary to the exhibition at the Graham Foundation, 4 West Burton Place on Monday, November 24 at 6 pm.
EXHIBITION SUPPORT
Posters to Postage Stamps: An Exhibition of Contemporary Dutch Design is supported by the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Art and Design’s College of Architecture, Art and Urban Planning.
This exhibition is also co-sponsored by The Society of Typographic Arts and The Consulate General of the Netherlands. The program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
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