by YING HUI TOI
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about visiting a gallery, especially to a popular exhibition, is that it is not a wise choice to go during peak hours. I visited the Escher X Nendo: Between Two Worlds exhibition on a busy Sunday evening, I literally feel like a sardine in a can. Space was packed with people, but I guess everyone else is just like me, grabbing the last chance to see this highly rated Escher exhibition before it ends.
Maurits Cornelis Escher (M.C. Escher) is a Dutch graphic designer that is known for his iconic tessellation art, woodcut and self-portrait in the mirror. [1] This exhibition is a collaboration between M.C. Escher and Nendo, a Tokyo design studio. Visitors were given a chance to embark upon witnessing the chemistry between 19th-century art and contemporary design; seeing Escher’s artwork through the eye of Oki Sato, the founder of Nendo.
The Encounter
Before visiting the exhibition, I have never come across the name, Escher. However, some of the artworks presented in the gallery weren’t foreign to me, especially the tessellations. Sato perceived Escher as an artist of immense patience and almost “robotic” focus. [2] He further describes that Escher’s drawing technique of tessellations works like a plugin, adding a specific feature to the subject of the artwork. [2] I was intrigued by artwork, in particular, The Encounter, a lithograph created in 1944. [3] I would describe it is a coloured black poker face man encountering a smiling white man in white, it seems like a scene where two personalities of a person meet. This artwork was placed in the upper level of a split-level gallery, where space was separated by a descending zigzag pathway that led us down to “Transforming House”. [4]
The “Transformation House” is an installation by Nendo that translates the concept of Escher’s tessellation art in a three-dimension form. [4] I discern Nendo has a good taste in designing the space that includes Escher’s tessellation artwork and the installation. Despite the term ‘good taste’ is subjective as it is socially structured, space attracts many visitors with a diverse cultural background and they were willing to spend more time wandering around in this room. Christoforidou explains that people express their personal taste through their action. [5] Consequently, it is the action of the visitors lingering in the space that proves that Nendo has good taste in designing.
Nendo manifests that 19th-century art can be demonstrated through contemporary design. The installation takes up a large space immersed with 3D simplified house-shaped lined up from closed to an opened roof, inspired by tessellation art. This space serves a purpose, where visitors were able to have a physical engagement with Escher’s art. Some said they are seeing Escher’s art in a whole new perspective. [2] In this case, space is considered a good design, because the outcome of the exhibition corresponds with the intention of Nendo. Which is to deliver the message of “…you thought you knew Escher, but you really didn’t.” [2] I reckon Nendo successfully uses their profession to create a space for people to understand Escher’s art accessible.
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- “Escher X Nendo | Between Two Worlds | NGV”, Ngv.Vic.Gov.Au, Last modified 2019, https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/escher-x-nendo-between-two-worlds/.
- Sasha Grishin, “Review: Escher X Nendo, National Gallery Of Victoria”, Artshub Australia, Last modified 2019, https://visual.artshub.com.au/news-article/reviews/visual-arts/sasha-grishin/review-escher-x-nendo-national-gallery-of-victoria-256989.
- Dee Jefferson, “Reckon You Know Escher? Not As Well As You Think.”, ABC News, Last modified 2019, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-06/escher-x-nendo-exhibition-at-national-gallery-of-victoria/10575694.
- “M.C. Escher – About Escher”, Mcescher.Com, Last modified 2019, https://www.mcescher.com/about/.
- Despina Christoforidou et al., “Good Taste Vs. Good Design: A Tug Of War In The Light Of Bling”, The Design Journal 15, no. 2 (2012): 185-202, doi:10.2752/175630612×13258652805095.
- “The Encounter,May 1944”, Metmuseum.Org, Last modified 2019, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/365239.
Design Practices 
I went to this exhibition before, and I personally love it too. However, I didn’t do any research before and after I visit this exhibition, so I do not know why the works of Escher and Nendo will be put together. After reading your blog post, I finally know the answer, which is Nendo creates artwork, inspired by Escher’s tessellation art, in order to show the audience the relationship between 19th-century art and contemporary art and to let people view Escher’s artworks in a new way.
I personally love the artworks of Escher and Nendo, and I agree that they both have good taste in art and design. However, when you mention about “the action of the visitors lingering in the space that proves that Nendo has good taste in designing,” I suggest that you can also talk about your observation of the audience, for example, how is the facial expression and reaction when they looking at or engaging in Nendo’s artwork, to show that people are willing to spend money and time to this exhibition and it’s worth it because they love it but not disappointed, and to prove that Nendo has a good taste in design.
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After attending this exhibition, I will say it is not just an overall presentation of Escher’s artworks, but also a transformation of his art with a contemporary perspective.
Throughout the exhibition, I was highly impressed by Nendo’s installation work ” A House for Escher.” This blog has a very well understanding between the concept of Escher’s tessellation art and the house installation. It well explained that a “good taste” of design should bring in the view with physical engagement as part of the design.
To further develop Nendo’s idea behind this installation, I would like to share some of my point of view. The reason why Nendo choose a “house” as an icon is because it can not only represent “space” but also convey different concepts, such as dimension changing and viewing perspective. This house installation is designed to be explored from a different perspective. When reviewing it from above, the audience will have a two-dimensional view of the work. As they slowly walk downslope, the view will change continually from two dimensional to three dimensional. Finally, the audience will find out it’s a three-dimensional space where you can step in. The transformation from two-dimensions to three-dimensions is the highlight of this design work.
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