The furniture exhibition recalls the work of the Eames couple

Prague - Furniture designed by Americans Charles and Ray Eames, which has not lost its significance and timelessness even after several decades, is featured in an exhibition called Eames by Vitra installed at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. Visitors can view, literally from all sides, the results of this married couple's furniture design from the years 1940 to 1970.
    "Both Americans are among the classics of world design, who pushed the development of this field forward. They began during World War II with bent plywood. They collaborated with the military and the aviation industry and used lightweight materials. They also produced special splints for the wounded," said the curator of the exhibition, Daniela Karasová, to journalists before today's opening.
    According to her, the Eameses were at the cradle of the use of plastics in furniture design, which post-war sparked the so-called Brussels style, introduced vivid colors into interiors and lightened the furniture. They also created shells using molded wires and used aluminum to equip offices.
    The Museum of Decorative Arts showcases all their main developmental directions, including experiments with plywood, laminate, and wire, to the famous products such as the Lounge Chair and Aluminium Chair. Photographs, films, and commentary provide visitors with exhaustive information about the historical background of these designs and about the specific construction of the exhibits.
    The exhibition features originals from the Vitra Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany, industrially manufactured products, and five originals donated to the Museum of Decorative Arts by an American collector in the 1990s.
    Charles Eames passed away in 1978, and his wife Ray ten years later. However, their work remains current. Around the world, private and office interiors are still furnished with furniture they designed, drawing inspiration from their work.
    At a press conference, Eames Demetrios, the director of the American office promoting the work of both artists and preserving their legacy, pointed this out. He is their grandson, takes care of the Eames house on the Pacific coast in California in the family business, and collaborates with the museum in Germany.
    "According to Charles, the purpose of design was for the user to feel like a welcomed guest. To create something that is comfortable, durable, well-priced, and pleasant to touch. Such products gain beauty through mass production," Demetrios said, also highlighting the Eameses' interest in toys and filming educational and promotional films.
    The exhibition is part of the tenth edition of Design Days in Prague, Designblok. According to the museum's director Helena Koenigsmarková, it arrived in Prague from Vienna, will last until November 2, and will then head to France.