MoMA's "How Should We Live?" Interior Design 1920s-1950s

The exhibits postulates how interior design was radicalized beginning in the late 1920's through the 1950's.  It's made evident in a German poster depicting a posh, living space stuffed with ornate furnishings & ornamentations with a large red X mandates against living in this fashion  No to ornate over decorated space & yes to less is the new norm.  Contributing to streamlined design were limited space, expenses & the necessity for multi-functional living space.  Design driven by feasibility was imperative.  The exhibition consists of furniture, architecture, art & household items from early to mid 20th C is impressive for its relevance & modern aesthetic.  You'll be familiar with many pieces by well known architects & designers:  Le Corbusier, Knoll, Weems, van der Rohe.   Florence Knoll (b Amer 1917) was amongst a growing number of women architects & designers who contributed greatly during this epoch.  Other leading women included Eileen Gray & Charlotte Perriand.  The collaborations between the sexes was extensive:  Lilly Reich & van der Rohe, Charles & Bernice "Ray" Eames and Le Corbusier & Charlotte Perriand.  Although the name recognition for the men is more prevalent, the collaborations culminated in iconic designs withstanding the test of time.  MoMA, in 1950  held a design contest which resulted in numerous creations by Knoll & van der Rohe.  The designs with new materials & technology facilitated mass productions.  The Bauhaus School (1919-1933) was at the forefront of working with cleaner lines, & making efficent use of space.  Art, architecture, industrial & graphic design were undergoing a seismic shift.  Less is more & there is more or less plenty to note in this show.  The posters are formidable in their design & messaging.  Note also art & household items created by Arp, Albers, Calder & Gorky. There is an int'l group of artists, architects & designers represented:  Germany, America, Switzerland, France & Japan.  George Nakashima (b Amer 1909-1990) derivated from items designed for mass production.  Nakashima was among the Americans of Japanese lineage egregiously interned during WWII.  During his captivity Nakashima met Gentano Hikoyawa who mentored him in woodworking craftsmanship.  Nakashima is credited with leading the American craftsmanship movement in the 1950's, an irony not lost by our nation's despicable treatment of Americans during this period.   MoMA's "How Should We Live?" did not address how we forced people to live.