National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art's 'Time of the Earth' Wins Germany Red Dot Design Award 2022

Positive Reviews for Carbon Reduction Exhibition Design, Awarded in Brand Communication Category

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art announced on the 2nd that the exhibition "Time of the Earth," held at the Gwacheon branch in November last year, won the Brand Communication category at the 2022 Red Dot Design Award in Germany. Photo shows the exhibition view of "Time of the Earth." Photo by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) announced on the 2nd that the exhibition 'Time of the Earth,' held at the Gwacheon branch last November, won the German 'Red Dot Design Award 2022' in the Brand Communication category.

'Time of the Earth' was a thematic exhibition reflecting on the restoration of 'symbiosis, connection, and balance' from an ecological perspective through works by various domestic and international artists, in response to global crises such as climate change and the pandemic.

The MMCA explained that it practiced carbon reduction by considering ecological values not only in the exhibition content but also in the exhibition design.

First, to reduce exhibition waste, instead of using partition walls made of gypsum board and plywood, an air membrane structure was installed. The air membrane structure uses a thin elastic material forming the surface and air filling the interior as materials; after the exhibition ends, when the air is released, the structures that partitioned the exhibition space can be fully contained within a small box.

Additionally, the ecological art archive area set up in the central hall of the Gwacheon branch did not produce separate pedestals or exhibition furniture that would become waste after the exhibition. A new exhibition method called the 'Zero (0) Level Archive' was applied, which distinguishes the area where materials are placed and the viewing area solely by the difference in reflectivity of two materials installed on the floor.

The MMCA has been continuously researching and implementing sustainable carbon reduction practices by reusing existing exhibition furniture and transferring them to related organizations to realize the vision of an ecological art museum and a future art museum.

The MMCA explained that the Red Dot award for the 'Time of the Earth' exhibition design was highly evaluated for its creative direction focused on practical design for a sustainable future, environmental consideration, thematic delivery, and the potential for continuous development of ideas.

The 'Red Dot Design Award' has been held in Germany since 1955 and is currently one of the most influential and prestigious global design awards. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Berlin, Germany, this October.

Yoon Bum-mo, director of the MMCA, said, “It is especially meaningful to receive this award for 'Time of the Earth,' which sought to overcome anthropocentric perspectives and explore ecological thinking and practice,” adding, “Along with this, we will further strengthen our central role in practicing carbon reduction through projects such as the 'Carbon-Art-Project.'”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.