The World of Charles and Ray Eames was an exhibition held at the Barbican, in London, from 21 October 2015- 14 February 2016, showcasing some of the major work and contributions by the couple to the world of design and communication over their lifetime. As part of my masters, I was required to respond to the exhibit or any part of it, however small, with 6 images. These could be distinct or created in a series.
My inspiration lay in two aspects of their lives.
Firstly, their philosophy towards designing for a need, within the defined restrictions and requirements of the problem, summed up in a quote by Charles Eames:
And secondly, their interest in cultural symbols and artefacts around the world, visible through their extensive mask collection, initiated primarily by Ray Eames.
As my response, I crafted a set of six theatre masks, inspired by the characters of the Commedia dell'arte form of theatre, and designed posters that showcased masked self portraits. I aimed to draw a parallel between actors performing within the constraints of the characters that they embody, and a designer working within the constraints of any design problem.
