Wall Clocks George Nelson, 1948/60
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“Total design is nothing more or less than a process of relating everything to everything.” George Nelson
Celestial bodies, planetary systems and star-shaped objects are marked not only by their ability to measure time but by the intricate wall patterns that their motion works create. For the systematist George Nelson, these objects embodied the modern age. Marked by a belief in progress and by the economic boom of the 1950s in the US, the American designer gave everyday objects an unconventional, fresh look. His wall clocks are cheerful sculptures which, back in their heyday, brought an air of modernity into American homes. “Design is an response to social change”, George Nelson once stated. And as a designer, architect and critic, he has indeed had a great influence on our daily lives. The prototypes of the Wall Clocks were originally made between 1948 and 1960. Today, the floral wreaths, stars and suns made of wood and metal are yet again being serially produced and are considered icons of 1950s design. Nevertheless, these daily companions have stood the test of time. In fact, time seems to have passed them by completely.
George Nelson