Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible. I think it’s in my basement… let me go upstairs and check – M.C. Escher, artist.
The intriguing work of 20th-century Dutch graphic artist, Escher is the subject of a unique world-premiere exhibition currently on at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. ‘Between Two Worlds | Escher X nendo’ features more than 160 fascinating prints and drawings by Maurits Escher, presented in an immersive environment created by the acclaimed Japanese design studio, nendo.
In a world-first, the exhibition will feature Escher’s work throughout his lifetime from 1916-1969, drawn from the Gemeenetmuseum in The Hague, Netherlands. A master of optical illusion, Escher’s art often plays with perspective, featuring “impossible constructions” such as staircases that lead nowhere or which go up and down at the same time, and two hands that are simultaneously drawing each other.
As one of the leading design studios in the world, nendo has drawn upon their unique design approach and created a deeply immersive exhibition experience. Through clever manipulation of geometry, space and perception, nendo’s never-before-seen exhibition design presents Escher’s work in new and interesting ways.
Oki Sato, founder and chief designer of nendo, said the installations varied in scale and in spatial impact, allowing visitors to experience Escher’s world in a physical way. “It’s as if they are walking inside Escher’s mind, but seeing the exhibition through their own eyes,” he said.
NGV director Tony Ellwood said Escher’s art and its complex play with space, logic and mathematics, had had an indelible impact on architecture and design for many generations. “This is a unique opportunity to explore how art can be perceived and experienced differently through the lens of design.”
‘Escher x nendo’ is on display from 2 December 2018 to 7 April 2019 at the NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. For more information, click here.
