The current Pop Art Design exhibition at the Barbican has
a familiar feel about it with many examples seen in London galleries in recent
years: from Roy Lichtenstein’s comic strips; Ed Ruscha’s block text graphics;
William Klein’s dazzling film montages; Harry Gordon’s paper poster dresses;
Martin Sharp’s psychedelic posters; Richard Hamilton’s collages; Andy Warhol’s
flowers; Peter Blake’s Beatles; Pauline Boty’s female icons and so forth. But
Pop Art by its very nature is
familiar with its appropriation of everyday items, branding, advertising and cultural figures.
Pop Art Design
looks at how design – furniture, clothes, architecture, etc. - and Pop-Art are entwined
and inform each other. Andy Warhol’s Close
Cover Before Striking (1962), a large acrylic on canvas piece depicting a matchbook
adorned with Coca-Cola advertising, is placed above a 1960’s Coca-Cola
dispenser; both equally bold designs and beautiful works of art. Pop Art might say
something about consumerism and capitalism but to me it simply looks bright,
vibrant, fun and reflects a world I can relate to. That’ll do.
Yet what caught the eye, time and time again, was the
work of Alexander Girard, a name I wasn’t aware of. Each time Mrs Monkey and I spotted
something interesting and “new” it inevitably had his name on the caption. Magazine covers, lettering on cushions, curtain fabrics, household
items, even a whole restaurant, there was the Girard name. As an architect, interior
designer and furniture designer “Sandro” was commissioned in 1960 to design
every part of La Fonda Del Sol Restaurant
in New York, from the kitchen to the servery counter to the tables to the
crockery to the menus and to packets of sugar. It looked an incredible place with
his cheerful collection of 80 different sun motifs as an ever changing logo. And
no, of course it’s not still there, I’ve checked. Not the real one anyway.
Well worth a mooch around with plenty of inspiration to
be found among over 200 pieces by 70 artists. The walls of Monkey Mansions have
looked starkly white and colourless ever since.
Pop Art Design is
at the Barbican Centre, London until 9 February 2014, admission £12.
For more on La Fonda Del Sol see Burning Settlers Cabin blog.
