June 5, 2015
Playplax, Patrick Rylands, 1966. Image from systemsproject.co.uk
Today kicks off Play: toys, sets, rules, a fascinating exhibition on Modernist toys. We’re dying for this one of a kind collection featuring a wide-range of simple, yet beautifully designed toys, both rare and well-remembered, from the mid-twentieth century, particularly the 1960s and 70s. Many pieces were sourced from the personal collections of the designers themselves, including Roger Limbrick, Patrick Rylands, Fredun Shapur, and Ken Garland, adding a layer of intimacy and immediacy to the well-curated exhibit. According to systems, the non-profit dedicated to the continued exploration of the Modernist aesthetic that organized the exhibition: “Play offers a unique survey of late Modernist approaches to child development and design and, as such, a variety of ways in which we might think of both play and design as formative and speculative activities.” Held at the Walter Knoll showroom in London from June 5 - July 6, 2015, the exhibition is part of the London Festival of Architecture and is held concurrently with a series of workshops for children ages 7-12, exploring learning through play. Visit the systems project website to learn more about this dynamic exhibition.