Overview

Curated by Maya Dvash “Overview” is the latest exhibition at the Design Museum Holon in Israel, all focused on one of the greatest inventions of our time, the eyeglasses.

The Design Museum Holon opened its new exhibition “Overview”, which engages with one of the most important inventions in human history, and a desirable design object: eyeglasses. 

Tortoise shell, 19th century
Daniel Gaultier for Pierre Cardin, sketches
Folding Chinese spectacles with case, 18th century, bronze
Prototype for Alain Mikli fantasy mask, plastic and aluminum, 1989
Polycarbonate ski shield with molded nosepiece, Bollé, 1980
Monocular opera fashioned as a perfume bottle, 1880, crystal and brass
360 degrees hand-held fan with central lens, 1900
Benjamin Martin Eyeglasses, 1756, metal and bull horn
Eskimo bone eyewear
Fantasy Sunglasses with chain instead of rod, 1960

  The exhibition follows the development and future of eyeglasses through several different points of view: from the unique Claude Samuel retrospective eyeglasses collection dating back to the 17th century to contemporary conceptual interpretations of eyeglasses by 50 Israeli designers highlighting the creative energy of the Israeli design scene. In addition, it explores the new Virtual Reality (VR) technology, as well as the different ways sight and design can interact through various activities.

Top: Transparent plastic frames withy battery powered mechanism to operate wipers and lights, plastic, 1980. Left: Globe water lens, 19th century

“Overview” examines cultural milestones and the central role eyeglasses played in defining social and cultural phenomena. “We tend to forget that the initial purpose of eyeglasses was to correct a flaw, and eyeglasses do not conceal that flaw, but actually emphasise it by means of design. The exhibition will not only enable an observation of the cultural history of eyeglasses, but also of the designer’s role throughout the process”, curator Maya Dvash explains.

Folding Lorgnettes, gold, 19th century, Art-Nouveau