Starting out from the history of the Geymüllerschlössel and its presentday use—since taken over by the MAK, it has hosted permanent exhibitions of Empire Style and Biedermeier furniture and Old- Viennese clocks from the Sobek collection—the MAK DESIGN SALON now opens the place to contemporary design and gives room to intertemporal juxtapositions. The designers invited are asked to engage with the early 19th-century era of change and the building as a museum site to establish stylistic and social references to the present age. The first temporary intervention, Time & Again by Michael Anastassiades, which will be on view throughout the season from May to November, will be dedicated to time and timelessness“.

In several rooms, the London-based designer will make use of available furniture which he contraposes to his own designs, developing new objects for the interiors. The suggested configurations will take visitors on a journey back in time, arranging for imaginary meetings with the former residents. In several rooms, the London-based designer will make use of available furniture which he contraposes to his own designs, developing new objects for the interiors. The suggested configurations will take visitors on a journey back in time, arranging for imaginary meetings with the former residents.

Michael Anastassiades’ objects oscillate between design, sculpture, and applied arts. His editions are produced by selected manufactories, as, e.g., J. & L. Lobmeyr, Vienna. In their materiality, chandeliers, table and furniture objects correspond to the patrician ambience of the place, while simultaneously undercutting it with their plain look. Originally created for the Norfolk House Music Room at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, his Kinetic Light 2 – Golden Pendulum (2010) is the starting point of a development that relates to the Geymüllerschlössel as a former concert salon as well as to Franz Sobek’s collection of clocks.

Curator Thomas Geisler, MAK Curator Design