Modernity in retrospect
One hundred years ago the Neue Sammlung had its first exhibition. The International Ceramic Museum looks back at the start of the Munich institution. The show includes ceramics that were already in the opening exhibition in 1926. This was an important moment for the collection.
The Neue Sammlung began in 1925. It started as a department for applied arts at the Bavarian National Museum. From the start, modern ideas, international connections, and good design were important. The first exhibition was not only a museum display. It was also a program start. It should introduce the new institution. It also wanted to help many people with design questions.
Ceramics had a very important role in this plan. It had its own room. In the next room there were porcelains. In the entrance area there were large works. The current presentation at the International Ceramic Museum continues this. It shows works that tell about the variety of modern design at the start of the 20th century: Art Nouveau, simple forms, regional traditions, and international positions. This shows how open the collection was early on. This openness shapes the collection up to today.
