A Different Perspective. African Ceramics

In July 2017, an extraordinarily diverse, exquisite, and extensive collection of African ceramics from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century from the collection of Franz, Duke of Bavaria was given to Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum as a donation and permanent loan. It includes exemplary works from various regions of Africa with an emphasis on ceramic vessels. In its scope, the precision of its selection, and the quality of the individual works, this collection, which Franz, Duke of Bavaria has been building since the 1970s, is considered one of the most internationally significant collections of African ceramics.

Until now, the collection has only been well-known to a few, although it is highly regarded in professional circles. Die Neue Sammlung will therefore honor this generous gift with a comprehensive exhibition of over 250 objects starting on September 27. The title Anders gesehen (A different perspective) points to a distinctive aspect of this new contextualization. In a museum of design and applied art, the African ceramics can be seen first and foremost from a creative and artistic point of view and received from different perspectives. This renders a presentation possible, that establishes a new, design-focused viewpoint.
The exhibition will provide information on the wealth of forms and functions of the African ceramics, as well as the different contexts of their creation. Instead of a presentation organized by region, as is customary in ethnographic museums, this exhibition offers a design-historical examination of the vessels and figures, starting from the objects themselves. This approach enables a new, fresh look at ceramic production in Africa, examining form, function, decor, and materiality.
For the development of the exhibition architecture, Die Neue Sammlung was able to win over the internationally renowned architect Asif Khan from London. Khan is currently also designing the new Museum of London and a Centre of Contemporary Culture in Almaty, Kazakhstan.