The Blueprint curated diary: Maya Dvash


Maya Dvash, chief curator of Design Museum Holon in Israel, shares her recommendations for the best shows and books of the summer


Maya Dvash was appointed chief curator of the Design Museum Holon in February of this year, having previously been the museum’s editor-inchief. Throughout her time at the museum, Dvash has curated an array of design exhibitions, including Sagmeister & Walsh: A Retrospective. In addition to her roles as curator, writer and editor, Dvash lectures at leading design academies in Israel. Prior to her career at Design Museum Holon, Dvash held various leading editorial positions in some of the top-tier publishing houses in Israel, such as Kinneret Zmora-Bitan Dvir and Modan.

Arieh Sharon: Architect of the State
Until 14 October

No visit to Tel Aviv is complete without a visit to Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Now is a great opportunity to catch Arieh Sharon: Architect of the State, featuring works by one of Israel’s ‘architectural forefathers’. As the lead architect of the first masterplan of Israel, Sharon’s works are historical and a paean to the well-known Bauhaus style. The exhibition displays his works showing how he shaped the space of Israel through blueprints, illustrations, models, photographs, letters, and pieces from his personal and professional life.
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv

Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier
Until 7 October

This is one of my must-see exhibitions of the year. With so many fashion exhibitions, it is even more essential to see make sure you don’t miss works of brilliant designers, such as Azzedine Alaïa, who died last year. This exhibition will showcase his piece for renowned clients, as well as stories from throughout his life and iconic career.
Design Museum, London

Fashion Statements: Decoding Israeli Dress
Until 29 April 2019

Fashion design has become a favourite in museums; bringing visitors closer to the art behind the industry. The Design Museum Holon’s previous exhibition, Je t’aime, Ronit Elkabetz, was a moving example of how wardrobes may carry personal stories and how clothes have the ability to deeply affect us as viewers.

Fashion Statements, a new exhibition at the important Israel Museum in Jerusalem, presents fashion in Israel from the 19th century to today. The exhibition takes the visitor on a rich cultural journey through clothing displays, fashion sketches, films and fashion photography. From Israeli fashion’s deep roots to its kicking contemporary collections the exhibition exemplifies the extensive conflict in ideology and Israel’s blend of traditional and current fashion trends.
Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Sagmeister & Walsh: A Retrospective
Until 20 October

Image Credit: Shay Ben Efraim

Of course, a few words on our exciting new exhibition: the first retrospective of creative agency Sagmeister & Walsh. This is a very special exhibition for us, as it’s the first time since the museum’s opening in 2010 that we are spotlighting communication and graphic design — and I know that our local community of designers is as excited as we are. Sagmeister & Walsh: A Retrospective is an exploration of visual communication design with a mix of past and new works by designers Stefan Sagmeister and Jessica Walsh with a selection of two-dimensional posters, spatial representations, material objects and social experiments, among interactive installations throughout the space. The exhibition exemplifies the provocative and playful nature of Sagmeister & Walsh, exploring subjects like happiness, beauty, and emotion in design.
Design Museum, Holon

Ron Arad: Yes to the Uncommon!
Until 14 October

Image Credit: Jårgen Hans

I very much admire Ron Arad for his unique mark in the design world in Israel, and I am honoured to work in one of his most renowned architectural projects, Design Museum Holon. I am greatly looking forward to visiting his current exhibition at Vitra Design Museum, showing his iconic approach and unconventional designs. Arad’s love for shape and unpredictable design is shown throughout his architecture as well as his product designs seen in the exhibition.
Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein

6 Alice Rawsthorn: Design as an Attitude
Published 24 July

Image Credit: Michael Leckie

Like many of my colleagues, I am eagerly awaiting the upcoming publication of Design as an Attitude, by leading design and culture writer Alice Rawsthorn. Alice was a guest speaker this May at Jerusalem’s Bezalel Academy’s annual symposium on industrial design, where she shared her research of the dynamic developments in contemporary design and its wide impact on society today. As a ‘subjective field guide’ to design, Alice’s book addresses design in the age of innovation and new generations of designers through economics, politics, ecology and social standpoint. We are definitely witnessing great developments in design today, and Alice’s expertise exploits the field’s evolution and its influential stance in our fast-paced lives.
Published by JRP








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