Architects of the everyday. Furniture design for residential interiors. 1959-1984

The exhibition “Architects of Everyday Life. Furniture Design for Living Interiors. 1959-1984”. Visitors are invited to explore the work of the first generations of professional female furniture designers, who paid particular attention to the shaping of the living environment. Many women designers began to create furniture in the 1970s and 1970s, giving a strong impetus to the modernist tradition of Lithuanian furniture, which was later combined with new design trends dictated by time. Although the women designers worked under the difficult conditions of the Soviet regime, when creative initiative was stifled, professional information was scarce, and there was a shortage of materials for production, their work had a significant impact on the development of Lithuanian furniture design, and was inscribed in the context of the European modernist tradition.

For a long time, Lithuanian furniture design of the Soviet period was a little-known, marginal field. Today, as the ideas of simplicity and moderate consumption permeate our lives, the popularity of functional modernist objects used in residential interiors that reflect these values has returned. Many newcomers are looking for an authentic Lithuanian home from the 7th and 8th decades of the 20th century. However, there is still a lack of information about their creators.

The exhibition presents some of the first examples of furniture designed by the Furniture Design and Construction Bureau. The works of Lygia Marija Stapulionienė (b. 1928) are distinguished by their characteristic elegant forms. The visitor will also find the much-loved mid-century living room furniture by Brigita Adomonienė (b. 1931), whose design is still successfully used in the furniture industry. The exhibition presents not only the popular minimalist furniture designed by Valerija Emos Cukermanienė (1935-2018), but also her later works, which reveal the changes in the modernist tradition. The bold creative explorations of Liucija Zaveckienė (1929-2019), the author of furniture that is widely used in everyday life, are reflected in her works from the 8th century and the 20th century. The exhibit presents the projects of the 8th century. The exhibition also presents the work of Dalia Siaurusaitienė (b. 1940), who joined her colleagues a little later. Her work combines functional design with expressive form. The exhibition also includes original designs for the well-known living room set Jotulė, for which Florentina Nera Nesavienė (b. 1945) cleverly applied the user-friendly principle of modular furniture.

Gražina Gurnevičiūtė, Živilė Intaitė

Jivivi Gnevinnevaitė and Jiri Gnevinnevaitė, coordinator of the exhibition: Agnė Jonikaitė

Exhibition architect Tomas Valentinaitis

The project was funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture

Partners: Lithuanian National Museum, Design Foundation, Lithuanian Design Forum