Verner Panton: Form, colour, space

The Danish architect and designer Verner Panton (1926-1998) is one of the most important designers of the 20th century. His work ranges from furniture, textiles and lighting to sculptures, buildings and interiors that radically redefined the design possibilities of colour and light. panton would have been 100 years old in 2026. The exhibition planned for this occasion in the Vitra Design Museum's Schaudepot will present Panton's work in a chronological, thematic structure. Key objects such as the Panton Chair (ca. 1956-1967) or the Visiona exhibition (1970) will have their own dedicated chapters. The context of Panton's work is also examined, which was characterised by the possibilities of new plastics and manufacturing processes as well as the social upheavals of the post-war period and the enthusiasm for outer space of the so-called Space Age. The core of the exhibition is formed by Verner Panton's archive, which the designer donated in large parts to the Vitra Design Museum in 1989. These holdings include around 680 pieces of furniture, prototypes and models, over 200 lamps and around 40,000 sheets of plans, design drawings, correspondence and company documents. In addition, the museum's collection includes around 300 sample fabrics that Verner Panton designed for the Mira-X company. With its high-calibre exhibits, some of which have never been on display before, its contemporary design and the reawakened and constantly growing social interest in holistic and forward-looking design ideas, the exhibition appeals to a wide audience. The research for the exhibition and the preparation of the content are supported by a cooperation with Verner Panton AG in Basel.