Design

Discovering the Five Hundred Arhats of Changnyeongsa Temple

December 8, 2021

Kim Byeongho — a farmer and his wife — used to be frequent visitors to a hillside in Yeongwol, Gangwon-do province, Republic of Korea that had long been known to locals as the Mudeomchi (Hill of Graves) temple site.

Black rubber mask shaped to cover the whole face. It has two glass eye pieces, positioned below is a circular perforated valve for breathing out and a brown rectangular canister attached by flexible pipe.

The Modern Mask

October 21, 2020

Concept work on the recently opened exhibition, Design for Life, started in late 2019. At this point in time, Australia had not yet experienced some of the worst bushfires on record and the world was blissfully unaware of the pandemic that would emerge in early 2020.

Architectural models from the collection

August 14, 2019

The Powerhouse Museum collection contains material relating to architecture and the built environment, of local, national and international significance. The collection includes scale models, design archives, plans, drawings, photography and interior fittings, with projects ranging from iconic buildings by award winning, internationally recognised Australian architects Glenn Murcutt, Harry Seidler and John Andrews, to social housing and civic projects of public interest. Architectural models form an important part of the architecture and built environment collection, and the Museum has many fine examples of conceptual, working, and large-scale presentation models that illustrate this craft.

Writing set in red metal with black detail, comprising a blotter, pen tray and circular inkstand with a black-ball handle on the cover.

100 years of the Bauhaus

August 1, 2019

The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences has just opened a display with striking objects, photographs and archival material from its extensive decorative art and design collections, to celebrate the centenary of the Bauhaus, the most influential 20th century school of design.

Student Fashion 2019

June 19, 2019

Held annually at the Powerhouse Museum since 1993, the Student Fashion display showcases the work of Sydney’s top local fashion design graduates, providing insight into the skills and potential of the next generation of Australian designers.

Photograph of a man standing holding a large poster. The poster depicts the portiat of a man wearing a red turban with a moustache and the word aussie appears in large text across the bottom

Peter Drew: artist and activist

May 9, 2019

"Public space is a great equaliser, and an ancient forum." The placing of posters in public spaces is artist Peter Drew’s way of drawing attention to Australia’s immigration issues and a direct response to the Australian government’s ‘Stop the Boats’ campaign.

A young woman holding a certificate and a grey-haired man pose in front of an exhibition space.

Shape 2018: Student Design

April 4, 2019

Shape 2018 is a showcase of exceptional year 12 student work from the syllabus areas focused on design and technology – Design and Technology / Textiles and Design / Industrial Technology. This year MAAS has 37 examples on show from around New South Wales.

Black and white photograph of a woman working at a drawing board.

Meet the Volunteer: Denise Larcombe

April 1, 2019

Name: Denise Larcombe Which of the Museum’s sites do you volunteer at: Powerhouse Museum How long have you been volunteering at MAAS: Since 2007 What’s your background: After Studying Industrial Design at East Sydney Technical College I worked in lighting Design and then joined Crown Crystal Glass as an Industrial Designer in 1967.

Woman with display of 3 steps - choose style, pick fabric, custom fit

Algorithms and fashion on demand – an interview with Citizen Wolf

March 13, 2019

The Good Design Awards 2018: Fashion Revolution Australia exhibition features four Australian labels illustrating some of the principles promoted by Fashion Revolution Australia, including considered (or conscious) sourcing of materials, upcycling and transparent supply chains.

MAAS Architecture Commission 2019: Agora by Penhale and Winter

February 26, 2019

Agora is the second in a series of three annual architecture installations commissioned by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. Funded by a generous private donor, the annual commission is an opportunity for MAAS to support Australian architecture and design practitioners.

An image of a red papercut. 'Golden Coin, Good Fortune and Longevity' (jīn qián fú shòu).

Happy Lunar New Year, The Year of the Pig

February 5, 2019

The Lunar New Year is the most significant annual celebration for Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures. Today (5 February 2019) marks the beginning of the Year of the Golden Pig. If you were born in 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 or 2019 then it is your year!

The Ideal Home Exhibition: Australian experiences of home across the past 100 years

January 29, 2019

Home should be a place of security, intimacy, love and family, a haven from the world. It is where we can express ourselves through the location, architecture, furnishings and decoration. But 'home' is also a site of financial burden, fracture, loss and danger - and increasingly for some, a home is simply unattainable.

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