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Parall(elles): A History of Women in Design
By : Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Culture, Sport & Leisure / Museum & Gallery : Gold Certification
Organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, in collaboration with the Stewart Program for Modern Design, the exhibition Parall(elles): A History of Women in Design celebrated the important contribution of women to the world of design through a rich body of work and objects dating from the mid-19th century to the present day. It examined the reasons that led to their under-representation in history, and proposed a deep reflection on the nature of design.
Parall(elles) also highlighted the importance and complexity of design works by American and Canadian women by presenting the social, political and personal issues that have coloured their experience over time. The exhibition took into account the intersectionality of gender, identity, race, culture and social class to promote a better understanding of these women’s achievements. It highlighted the early training and career opportunities available to them, traced the changing status of the craft, and showed the influence of women’s emancipation movements on their practice. In addition to revisiting traditional definitions of the term « design », the exhibition offered a breathtaking universe of beauty and virtuosity.
Taking a fresh look at design over the past 150 years, Parall(elles) gathered nearly 250 works and objects designed by over 200 female designers from Quebec, Canada and the United States. A third of the objects presented came from the MBAM collection, one of the most important design collections in North America. The exhibition also benefited from numerous loans from the Stewart Program for Modern Design, private collections and some thirty Canadian and American museums.
Collaboration
