Designing Dynamism

Kuba Textiles from the D R Congo, The Wesley Mancini Collection

A dynamic, bold, exploration of the breadth of the Kubadesign aesthetic and its lasting impact on early 20th-century modernismthrough to the present day.

The textiles of the Kuba kingdom(now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), represent the most intact and cohesivetradition in the region, and are exceptional for their artistic calibre,graphic sophistication, and complexity of style. The written story of Kubacloth begins with encounters in the early 16th century between the coastal Congokingdoms and European explorers who were impressed by the elegance andintricacy of Congo weaving. In the early 20th century the Kuba improvisationalabstract aesthetic captivated the Western avant-garde, influencing fashion,fabric design, and the decorative arts.

In addition to presenting fullcolour plates of up to 50 pieces, Designing Dynamism featuresillustrations of modern European textiles, contemporary woven Wesley Mancini fabrics, a main essay on Kuba design and its influence on modern and contemporary designers and an essay by Stephen Burks, the only African American to have won the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National DesignAward in Product Design. A brief illustrated section focuses on the raised embroidery technique in detail.

Contributor: Annie Carlano (Edited by), Joel Smeltzer (Illustrated by), Stephen Burks (Contributions by), Malika Leiper (Contributions by), Todd Herman (Preface by)

Illustrator: Joel Smeltzer

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