Postmodernism

In 1979, the French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard published a study entitled The Postmodern Condition. The art and design style of the late 1970s to the late 1980s owes its name to this influential paper. The hallmark of postmodernism is a mix of styles that can sometimes turn out to be more serious and other times more humorous.

The Frankfurt Skyscraper Cabinet F1, designed by Norbert Berghof, Michael Landes and Wolfgang Rang, is an elaborately crafted piece of furniture featuring high value materials. In terms of form and name, however, it alludes to the traditional baroque Frankfurt cabinet and the Frankfurt skyline.

Writing desk made of precious woods and two-tone marble base and panels in the shape of two “towers” with a golden sphere in the middle.
Norbert Berghof, Michael Landes, Wolfgang Rang “Frankfurter Hochhausschrank F1”, 1985, Inv. No. OV00200, © Norbert Berghof, Michael Landes, Wolfgang Rang, Photo: © Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln, Marion Mennicken

In contrast to this there is the Super luminaire designed by Martine Bedin for the Memphis design group, which, in terms of design concept, appears to be a reference to the 1950s.

In both examples, the characteristics of postmodernism are easy to spot: for example, the use of opposites (old/new, humorous/ serious, playful/functional) and also the concrete application of stylistic elements from earlier epochs. This would not have been ideologically possible in the age of modernity.

Lamp in the shape of a toy with wheels and 6 colorful light bulbs.
Martine Bedin, Memphis lamp object “Super”, 1981, Inv. No. OV00188, © Martine Bedin, Photo: © Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln