Emerging from the devastation of World War II, Japan entered an intense period of reconstruction in the 1950s, propelled in large part by international successes in design-related industries. These attracted the interest of foreigners in residence and soon came to the attention of Elizabeth Gordon, editor-in-chief of House Beautiful magazine from 1941 to 1964, who set out to explain the beauty of Japanese design and its relevance to the modern American lifestyle in two issues of the magazine (August and September 1960). Both were highly influential among American architects and designers. A staunch advocate of a more comfortable alternative to the rigid anonymity of orthodox modernist architecture, Gordon admired the humanistic and livable qualities of Japan’s design aesthetic. This talk will explore what this aesthetic is all about, as discussed in Patricia Graham’s new book, Japanese Design: Art, Aesthetics, and Culture (Tuttle), and how it helped shape the appearance of mid-century modern design in America. Come join us for a stimulating conversation about this fascinating topic. The event is sponsored by Lawrence Modern and KU’s Center for East Asian Studies.
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