Kunsthal Rotterdam

From the beginning of the 20^th century, the versatility of Bakelite has brought about revolutionary developments in telecommunications, the car industry, air and space travel and other fields. The exhibition shows such objects as photographic and film cameras, radio and TV sets, domestic articles, items of furniture, tools and toys. Designs by twenty-five prominent designers including Philippe Starck, Friso Kramer and Isamu Noguchi form a part of the presentation.

Bakelite, one of the most amazing materials ever invented

The invention of Bakelite in 1907 by the Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland (Ghent, 1863-1944) is a milestone in the history of chemistry. This thermosetting plastic that is hardened by heating, is used for the casing of a variety of objects and applied in electrical engineering because of its insulating properties. Objects made of Bakelite are often characterised by their curved shape, which makes it easy to remove the product from the mould. Through large-scale production and the possibility of making attractively designed products, Bakelite grew globally to become the number one material with more than a thousand uses. Many products came within reach of ordinary citizens from the 1930s on, but in the 1950s Bakelite gradually began to go out of fashion as more modern plastics appeared that are more colourful and robust. Bakelite is still applied worldwide on a very large scale. China, the USA, Japan and Europe produce million of tons every year, mainly for industrial use. You may not see it, but it is there, even in your phone and in your car. The prewar articles, on the other hand, have become highly sought after collectors items. With the exhibition ‘Bakelite, everyone knows it’ the Kunsthal contributes to opening up hidden private collections.

Back to a bygone era

The hundreds of everyday products from the collection of Reindert Groot in the exhibition afford a comprehensive view of the industrial design of the last century. The objects, including typical Art Deco, Bauhaus and Streamline styles, are thematically grouped by function and use – domestic appliances from stoves to fridges, curious medical instruments, items of furniture and office articles. Rare products such as advertising material, original working drawings and moulds, 19^th-century predecessors of Bakelite and tangible memories of the former Corodex Bakelite factory in Zandvoort are also on display.
Back to a bygone era!