Dazzled: OMD, Memphis Design, and Beyond

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Peter Saville, Peter Shire, Memphis, Carrie Schneider, Natalie Lanese, Miho Shimizu.

Curator: Ginger Shulick Porcella
Exhibition Design: Marina Grize

MOCA Tucson
January 19, 2019 (Sat.) – April 2019

In celebration of the advent of dazzle camouflage during World War I, MOCA Tucson presents an expansive, museum-wide exhibition exploring the influence dazzle camouflage has had over designers, artists, and musicians of the past one hundred years. Invented by British artist Norman Wilkinson in 1917, dazzle camouflage has heavily influenced popular culture in recent decades. From the release of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s 1983 concept album “Dazzle Ships” in collaboration with designer and Factory Records co-Founder Peter Saville to 1980s Italian design and architecture studio Memphis; from wartime “Dazzle Balls” to Op Art and Pop Art; from Pee-Wee’s Playhouse to contemporary artists working today across the globe; dazzle camouflage has become one of the most highly-appropriated and widely-recognized design tropes. The exhibition raises awareness of this important style of painting and design while presenting new work created by contemporary artists Natalie Lanese, Carrie Schneider and Miho Shimizu informed by dazzle camouflage. “Dazzled” includes a special solo presentation by Memphis founding member Peter Shire, as well as an immersive OMD “Dazzle Ships” installation in MOCA Tucson’s Great Hall with interactive video and sound components. Tucson’s own KXCI will create a playlist and listening lounge on site to accompany the exhibition. More info click here.