US release of Marcel Wander’s “Rijks, Masters of the Golden Age”

Sun, Jun 5 - Sun, Jun 5  2016

After resounding success of its launch in Amsterdam and Milan, Marcel Wanders presents ‘Rijks, Masters of the Golden Age‘ at the Bisazza Flagship Store in New York, on May 16th. It will be the US premiere of this one-of-a-kind homage to 17th-century Dutch Masterpieces from the “Gallery of Honour” at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

To be relevant beyond our time here is the greatest achievement of mankind. To endure with significance and bring meaning to future generations and their passions is why we celebrate the “Gallery of Honour” today. More than a book, “Rijks, Masters of the Golden Age,” is a work of art in itself, which shares with us the greatest masterpieces of the past and reveals how they influence how we see the world today. Experience each piece up close with the most surprising detail, as the finest printing techniques and thoughtful perspectives transport these paintings from a different age and vividly bring them to life. The importance of the magnificent selection found within these pages is equally as beautiful and relatable as the story of how this book came to be.

Marcel Wanders, the creator of this splendidly ornate volume, presents his profound appreciation for this outstanding cultural heritage and its timeless significance by offering the insight for its conception. Three years in the making, the book is truly a labour of love. With the museum reopening its doors in 2013 after a ten-year renovation, the book presents the collection without hierarchy and the design combines the ageless master paintings with professional perspectives set in different styles of calligraphy.

Leading contemporary critical thinkers from the worlds of philosophy, art, film, food, trend, business and design explain how their perception of the world has been influenced by these paintings. Featuring writings of top chef Ferran Adrià, productivity consultant and author David Allen, philosopher and author Alain de Botton, photographer and director Anton Corbijn, fashion designer Angela Missoni, photographer Jimmy Nelson, photographer Erwin Olaf and many more, the testimonies add a new way of seeing not only these masterpieces, but also life itself. The calligraphy in the book of the quotes of the contributors is made by Brody Neuenschwander and Massimo Polello.

Event

May 6, 6PM – Bisazza Flagship Store in New York, NY.

While Marcel Wanders will discuss the book with New York Magazine Design Editor Wendy Goodman, guests will learn how the finest materials, the most innovative techniques and the testimonies of leaders from the worlds of philosophy, art, film, food, trend, business and design came together to create this groundbreaking art publication.

The book will bring those in attendance eye to eye with over 60 iconic paintings such as Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” and Vermeer’s “Milkmaid.” Having garnered great response from specialized and general audiences already, ‘Rijks, Masters of the Golden Age’ will continue to build its acclaim during the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and citywide festival NYCxDESIGN. In Marcel’s own words: “We’ve transported these paintings from a different age and vividly brought them to life.”

About Marcel Wanders

Marcel Wanders is a product and interior designer who drew international recognition for his Knotted Chair produced by Droog Design in 1996. His work is ubiquitous; designing for leading international companies such as Flos, Alessi, Puma, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, MAC Cosmetics, Cappellini, B&B Italia, Moroso and Target. Wanders also designs for architectural projects, such as the Kameha Grand hotel in Bonn, the Mondrian South Beach hotel in Miami and the Villa Moda store in Bahrain. In addition to running his studio, Wanders is cofounder and Artistic Director of the successful design label Moooi (2001). Wanders exhibits widely and his work is included in such significant museum collections as MoMA New York, The Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, and the V&A Museum, London. Wanders has further published numerous books and is extensively profiled in the global media, appearing in such publications as the New York Times, Domus, The Financial Times and Wallpaper Magazine.

About Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is the iconic museum of the Netherlands. After ten years of rebuilding, refurbishing and renovating, the Rijksmuseum once again opened its doors to the public in full splendour on 13 April 2013. Both the building and the presentation of the collection underwent a total transformation. This revamping resulted in surprising furnishings, beautiful exhibitions, dazzling events and numerous facilities for young and old. The Rijksmuseum’s world-famous collection is being presented in an entirely new way. Visitors go on a journey through the ages and experience a sense of beauty and of time. In 80 galleries, 8,000 objects tell the story of 800 years of Dutch art and history, from the Middle Ages to Mondrian.