Situated along the banks of the Fox River, the minimalist, single-story Edith Farnsworth House has maintained a celebrated history as an icon of modern architecture since it was completed in 1951 by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
To celebrate 75 years of international recognition and acclaim, the historic house museum is hosting the exhibit Fertile Ground: Crossroads of Design in Mid-Century Mexico as part of their Farnsworth Forward 75th anniversary celebration.
Launched on Sunday, Aug. 23, Fertile Ground explores the movement of architecture, design and culture at the forefront of Mexico’s post-revolutionary transformation during the 1930s -1970s.
The exhibit features furniture, ceramics, textiles, photographs, and archival materials staged and displayed at both the Farnsworth House and its Barnsworth Gallery Studio.
Arianna Kiriakos is the Senior Assistant of Exhibitions and Programing at the Edith Farnsworth House. She says the Farnsworth Forward initiative is designed to go beyond the house’s established history.
“The house is not just a stagnant shrine to Mies van der Rohe,” she said. “Of course, those who love him are always welcome to come see it, and we are happy to host them, but there’s so much more that we can say in this space. What we’re aiming to discuss is more than just Mies’ version of modernity.”
Fertile Ground was organized by the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC) in Mexico City in collaboration with the Edith Farnsworth House.
Th exhibition curator, Ana Elena Mallet, is one of Mexico's leading experts on contemporary design. She says the items on display are designed to reflect a period of extraordinary development in her country’s history.
“For me,” she said. “Choosing objects that could tell a story, a story of a region, of a technique, of a family, of a workshop, were very important.”
Beyond that, she says Fertile Gound acts as a meaningful dialogue exploring the transcultural exchange of mid-century innovation.
“Opening this space to discuss all the kinds of modernity,” she said. “And bring these invaders, you know, these Mexican invaders — to the house, I think it’s very clever and very generous because we need to have these dialogues on different ways of thinking about the same situation that is modernity.”
Fertile Ground will run at the Farnsworth House through Nov. 22 of this year.
