Art adventure: 5 fall exhibitions

Courtesy of Vitra Design Museum, photo Jargen Hans

Those familiar with his sleek designs may be shocked to see Ron Arad: Yes to the Uncommon!, as the show also reveals the experimental creations in his extensive portfolio, including ready-mades constructed from old car seats, hand-welded steel furnishings and sculptural mass-manufactured products.

Through 14 October, Vitra Schaudepot / design-museum.de

Installation view, Akari: Sculpture by Other Means. Isamu Noguchi, Akari PL2 (c.1973), and (inside) Akari 1A (1952). Wood enclosure by The Noguchi Museum (2018).
Photo by Nicholas Knight. ©The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS).

There’s not a design-lover on the planet who can dispute the ethereal beauty of Isamu Noguchi’s work. Akari: Sculpture by Other Means includes installations that offer new ways of experiencing the designer’s Akari—a modular ecosystem of collapsible paper lanterns, through 27 January, 2019, Noguchi Museum / noguchi.org

Photo: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris

Tutto Ponti: Gio Ponti, Archi-Designer examines the life’s work of revered 20^th century Italian designer Gio Ponti. Over 500 pieces, including furniture, lighting, glassware, ceramics silverwork – and even the creation of journals – will be on display.

19 October – 10 February 2019, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris / madparis.fr

Renzo Piano, the Art of Making Buildings was designed and curated in close collaboration with the architect. A landmark exhibition, it’s the first on Piano in London in 30 years. Bonus: the lighting design is by iGuzzini.

15 September – 20 January 2019, Royal Academy of Arts London / royalacademy.org.uk

Photo: Svenskt Tenn

Josef Frank will display work by the Austrian-born architect and designer Josef Frank in architecture, urban planning and furniture and textile design. Frank is an iconic figure whose oeuvre still defines our notion of post-war Nordic design.

12 October – 17 March 2019, Design Museum Finland / designmuseum.fi/en/