Utrecht, 4 October 2023 - From today until next Sunday, the Centraal Museum in Utrecht will present a special pop-up of the exhibition 'Chair takes a stand' during the Camping & Caravan Jaarbeurs. The exhibition is an ode to more than 100 high-profile chairs, each with its own story. From revolutionary production methods and iconic designs to symbolic chairs. One of the stories is about Gerrit Rietveld's iconic crate chair on display at the Camping & Caravan Jaarbeurs. Bart Rutten, artistic director of Centraal Museum: "Rietveld designed a number of holiday homes at the family campsite Hessenheem in Markelo in the early 1950s. For the interior, he used his iconic crate chair from 1934. It's great fun for us to be able to tell the story of this chair at the Camping & Caravan Jaarbeurs. This is how we give shape to our cooperation with Jaarbeurs in a unique way. With the pop-up, we hope to inspire fair visitors to also come and take a look at the 'Chair takes position' exhibition at the Centraal Museum after their visit."
Art and knowledge come together in Jaarbeurs
Centraal Museum fulfils an important function within the city of Utrecht and its region. This is why Royal Jaarbeurs has been linking up with the Central Museum as a knowledge partner for many years, with the aim of supporting each other's activities. Jeroen van Hooff, CEO Royal Jaarbeurs: "I am delighted that our partnership with the Central Museum allows us to join forces to give our fair visitors a special art experience. Creating wonder is what we like to do at Jaarbeurs and the partnership with the Central Museum fits in perfectly with that. The Camping & Caravan Jaarbeurs is a perfect place to tell the story of Rietveld's iconic crate chair. I look forward to providing Centraal Museum with a stage more often to bring their exhibitions to the attention of our visitors in a unique and playful way."
Take a seat on the crate chair
'Chair takes a stand' is not only about well-known design chairs, but also about daring and experimental chairs, chairs that tell an unexpected story and chairs as art objects. So art lovers and curious fair visitors can look forward to a story about the crate chair during the Camping & Caravan Jaarbeurs. Bart Rutten: "Gerrit Rietveld's first crate furniture dates back to 1934. He initially produced them himself and delivered them assembled or as DIY kits. Making affordable and comfortable furniture was an important goal for Rietveld. In 1935, a series of crate furniture was marketed by Metz & Co as 'Weekend Furniture'. It was the ideal affordable furniture made of cheap pine for weekend cottages."
The crate chair will be on display during the Camping & Caravan Jaarbeurs from Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 October at Royal Jaarbeurs in Utrecht.
The 'Chair takes a stand' exhibition will be on display at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht from 23 September 2023 to 14 January 2024.
