Just One Good Chair Exhibition Showcases the works of the Danish Modernist Designer Hans J. Wegner

The works of the “most important Danish designer” Hans J. Wegner will be exhibited at Designmuseum Danmark to mark the designer’s 100th birthday.

The exhibit which will be titled Just One Good Chair will feature the works of the prolific furniture designer and will tell his story with over 150 of his furniture pieces. Aside from that, the event will also showcase photos, drawings and models developed by Wegner. Wegner produced 1500 chairs and other notable furniture pieces before his death in 2007.

The exhibit’s curator Christian Holmsted Olesen said “I’d say he’s the most important Danish designer ever. The reason for that is that he developed this new organic Modernism, which became so popular in the US in the 1950s and the 1960s.”

Some of the most popular furniture designs that will be included in the exhibit would be the Wishbone Chair, aptly named and based on the shape of the back support.

Wegner’s bent plywood Shell Chair, produced during the Postmodern era, will also be featured as it remains popular in the industry ever since it was first manufactured. Holmsted Olesen said “During the 1980s the Postmodernists were criticizing the Modernist design because it was too boring, too rational, too anonymous.” He added, “Wegner’s design is never boring- it’s full of fantasy, it’s very poetic and it’s very human in its approach.”

Wegner was first trained as a cabinet maker before he was mentored by Kaare Klint at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts. Klint is considered to be the father of Danish design. After his training, Wegner was commissioned by brands such as Rud Rasmussen to produce furniture designs for their company.

The exhibit will also showcase prototypes of furniture pieces which were not publicly displayed before, including the lounge chair from Wegner’s home which was solely used by his wife.

Just One Good Chair will run from April 3, 2014 to November 2, 2014.