Der symbolische Auftraggeber/The Symbolic Commissioner

The early 20th-century avant-gardes in art, dance and architecture wereenamored of the utopia of the New Man, who they proclaimed their idealized''client'' and the aim of their artistic production. The client is a symbolic one,because his actual identity remains unknown. Houses and carpets, wallpapersand suits, new cities and chairs were designed for him (or her), yet the figure hasremained a utopian one, flaring-up only for a brief moment in time, to inspireworks of art. This book combines images and essays from the two group exhibitions''Idealismusstudio'' and ''Die Blaue Blume,'' at the Art Association Graz,Austria. Featured artists range from Anni Albers and George Nelson to Luca Freiand Hilary Lloyd.