We explore Escher X nendo - Between Two Worlds Exhibition.

Escher X nendo | Between Two Worlds is a groundbreaking exhibition that features the work of Dutch artist M. C. Escher in dialogue with the work of acclaimed Japanese design studio nendo. The fabulously impossible geometries of the Dutch graphic artist MC Escher are explored by Oki Sato's studio Nendo at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

The exhibition, includes 157 prints and drawings by Escher, made between 1916 and 1969, taken from the largest collection of the artist's work, at the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. The collaboration with the Japanese studio has seen an immersive monochrome design for the exhibition that draws on Escher’s work by playing with themes of geometry and space.

A little about Escher: M. C. Escher (1898–1972) was a Dutch graphic artist who made some of the most iconic prints of the twentieth century.

A little about Nendo: Nendo is a design studio founded in 2002 by Oki Sato, one of the world’s most well-known and prolific designers. Based in Tokyo and Milan, nendo (meaning ‘clay’ in Japanese) designs graphics, products, furniture, installations and interiors that seek to surprise people in subtle, intelligent and playful ways.

The exhibition is arranged according to themes rather than chronologically, over nine display areas, each designed to provide a fitting backdrop for the specific exhibits.

The Nendo collaboration started out a little weak but as the exhibition unfolded it started to grow stronger and made a lot of sense by the end.

This visit was on a Sunday and the the gallery was packed full of people to the point of not actually being that enjoyable due to the sheer number of people barging their way through the space. A more staggered flow of viewers would have made it much less frenetic.