Plain Space Exhibition (John Pawson)

I went with a friend to visit the "Plain Space" exhibition in the Design Museum. The exhibition presents the work of John Pawson. Often described as a minimalist, he is famous for his application of a thorough and precise process of reduction in order to produce designs of simplicity. This exhibition celebrates his career using film, models photographs and elements of architecture in order to explore different projects such as Kew and the Calvin Klein store on Madison Avenue, New York. This exhibition was the first of it’s kind in the Design Museum with regards to the structure that offered a direct experience of Pawson’s work. 

“The state of minimum is not one of austerity nor deprivation. It is Clarity of space.” - John Pawson

Although this exhibition wasn't directly related to Graphic Design, this concept stood out and I quickly understood that the concept can be shared in all areas of design. 

Over here, Pawson enjoyed the use of plain space. We have already learnt from Darren the importance and effect of plain space. This, in our image session, he called "White Space". We learnt how the use of white space draws the eye to the object intended and applied this in our collages. Through simplicity and clarity one gains the desired end result is. Different Subject, same concept. 

I am intrigued by the fact that I went to an exhibition that was totally unrelated to my area of design and I came out feeling inspired because I had seen an extremely detailed application of a concept I was familiar with through my studies. 

I will be sure to keep this in mind in the future. I now realise that I can learn and be inspired from things that I would initially perceive to be unrelated to me.