PACKAGING DESIGN. MADE IN RUSSIA

For the first time in Russia, this retrospective will present the centuries-long history and tradition of Russian packaging, starting from original folksy solutions to contemporary, world-renowned examples of design. Curators of the exhibition examine the history of Russian graphic and industrial design by looking at artifacts of national material culture. A timeline of artistic styles and movements forms the basis of the exposition. These include eclecticism and neo-Russian style, art nouveau, Russian avant-garde and constructivism, Stalin’s empire style and socialist realism, mid-century modernism, 1980’s eclecticism, computerized experiments of the 1990’s and contemporary trends.

The Moscow Design Museum will show pre-revolutionary brands from purveyors to the Russian Imperial court, rare examples of ornamental glass bottles and metal cans that have been preserved in private collections in their original, unopened form, as well as present striking examples of constructivist packaging and advertisements by Alexander Rodchenko and Vladimir Mayakovsky, artists from such trusts as “Mosselprom” (the Moscow Rural Cooperative), “TEZHE” and others. Many of these objects have never been exhibited before.

The Soviet period will be represented by notable brands and iconic products, which many Russians still remember. Such products as condensed milk, milk in triangle shaped cartons, black caviar in tin cans, chewing gum, the first Soviet beer can that was manufactured for the 1980 Olympics and many more. We will introduce the names of designers behind the brands we love and exhibit original packaging, created by artists from “Souzprodoformlenie”, “Legmash”, “Legprom”, “Rosprodigrushka”, etc.

Visitors to the exhibition will not only be introduced to the process of how package design is created but will also see original hand-made sketches and models. Besides food packaging, perfume and medical products the exhibition will include interesting examples of packaging for household items, textiles and toys.