Contemporary Design News

News of Contemporary Design, Architecture and Interiors

“Transglass” Glassware. 1997. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Tord Boontje, Emma Woffenden
Events | Exhibitions

Life Cycles: The Materials of Contemporary Design, at MoMA

2 September 2023 – 7 July 2024 | The Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA

The Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition, ‘Life Cycles: the Materials of Contemporary Design’, exhibits 80 projects by 40 designers, examining the full life cycle of materials – from extraction to recycling, upscaling, or disposal. Featuring projects from MoMA’s collection, the exhibition explores the role design can play in addressing current environmental issues. It highlights examples of ingenious reuse, upscaling, and the use of waste as a new material.

‘Life Cycles’ underscores how designers’ relationships with materials have evolved to prioritise the long-term impact of these materials. Photo of ‘Transglass’ Glassware. 1997. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Tord Boontje, Emma Woffenden. MoMA

Extended Jug.1997. The Museum of Modern Art. New York. © Hella Jongerius
Extended Jug.1997. The Museum of Modern Art. New York. © Hella Jongerius
A-POC Queen Textile. 1997. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Issey Miyake, Dai Fujiwara
A-POC Queen Textile. 1997. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Issey Miyake, Dai Fujiwara
Endless Knot. 2006. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Aranda_Lasch, Terrol Dew Johnson
Endless Knot. 2006. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Aranda Lasch, Terrol Dew Johnson
Knot Basket 1. 2006. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Aranda_Lasch, Terrol Dew Johnson
Knot Basket 1. 2006. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Aranda Lasch, Terrol Dew Johnson
Cabbage Chair. 2007. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © nendo, Oki Sato
Cabbage Chair. 2007. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © nendo, Oki Sato
Sweeper’s Clock. 2009. Video still. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Maarten Baas
Sweeper’s Clock. 2009. Video still. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Maarten Baas
MoMA. Damaged Goods Piece 1. 2009. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Caroline Slotte
Damaged Goods Piece 1. 2009. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Caroline Slotte
MoMA, Totomoxtle. 2017. Corn husk panels
Totomoxtle. 2017. Corn husk panels. © Fernando Laposse
MoMA. Fernando Laposse. Totomoxtle. 2017. Hanging corn husk_
Totomoxtle. 2017. Hanging corn husk. © Fernando Laposse
MoMA. Separating the cob from the husks. 2017. © Fernando Laposse
Separating the cob from the husks. 2017. © Fernando Laposse
MoMA. Formafantasma. ‘Ore Streams’, Taxonomy. 2018. Video still. © Formafantasma
‘Ore Streams’, Taxonomy. 2018. Video still. © Formafantasma
MoMA. Adhi Nugraha. Cow Dung Lamps. 2021. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. photo_ Studio Periphery. Design-Anthology-Emerge-Objects-90
Adhi Nugraha. Cow Dung Lamps. 2021. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. photo Studio Periphery.
Installation view of Life Cycles_ The Materials of Contemporary Design, on view at the Museum of Modern Art, New York from September 2, 2023 – July 7, 2024. Photo_ Robert Gerhardt_
Installation view of Life Cycles: The Materials of Contemporary Design, on view at the Museum of Modern Art, New York from September 2, 2023 – July 7, 2024. Photo Robert Gerhardt