Playing Art: Education, Art and Design Exhibition Exploring Pedagogy and Modernism

This exhibition explores an often overlooked connection between 19th-century pedagogical methods based on play and the genesis of 20th-century modern art, design, and architecture. It features nearly 1000 pieces, including artworks and educational materials, divided into four thematic sections.

The exhibition 'Playing Art. Education, Art and Design' offers a novel perspective on the origins of modern art, design, and architecture by examining the influence of 19th-century educational pedagogies centered on play. Inspired by figures like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Friedrich Froebel's Kindergarten system, these methods of "drawing for all" are presented as a critical, though neglected, foundation for the radical changes introduced by modern art. The exhibition comprises nearly 1000 pieces, encompassing both artworks and educational materials, to illustrate this connection. The exhibition is structured into four distinct sections. "A synthetic museum of modern art" provides a conceptual overview of the 20th-century museum. "The artists' childhood" showcases teaching materials that represent innovative educational approaches of the 19th century. "Education as a game and modern art" draws parallels between drawing manuals, monographs, and educational games alongside significant works from key movements and figures in 20th-century art, architecture, and design. Finally, "Education and art as play" demonstrates how artists, activists, educators, designers, and architects of the 20th century acknowledged and repaid their debt to childhood, drawing, and the concept of play in education.

The exhibition runs from March 22 to June 23, 2019. Further details or ticketing information can be found via the provided booklet link or related event pages.