Tinker, Tailor, Canvas, Chair: How Modernism became a Cold War Secret Agent

This lecture reveals how the USA covertly used both Modernist design and Abstract Expressionism as cold war tools against the Soviet Bloc in the 1950s. In one of the most curious stories in art history, it explores how America's new artists were unwittingly weaponised by the CIA and how Mid-Century Modern design was used in European exhibitions...to demonstrate American cultural superiority to wavering intellectuals.

The lecture focuses on International Style architects and designers such as Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer, Charles and Ray Eames and Florence Knoll, and Abstract Expressionist painters such as Mark Rothko, Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. It looks at the politics of modernism in the run up to the 1950s and compares the new style of American painting and design with Soviet-imposed Socialist Realism.

In particular, the presentation focuses on US exhibitions such as The New American Painting (Europe,1958/9) and The American National Exhibition (Moscow 1959) to demonstrate US intentions. It lays bare the secret agenda of the CIA, its extensive links to New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and how it operated behind the back of Congress.

It also reveals new research on how Scandinavian Modern design became sucked into the process - in an attempt to draw the Nordic countries further into the West. Finally it asks the hundred million dollar question: would abstract expressionism achieve record prices at auction today were it not for this secret political programme of the 1950s?

How to book this event:

There are two lectures, one at 10.30am and one at 13.45pm.

Please go to our website and book online to the lecture.

THE ARTS SOCIETY ACCREDITED LECTURER

Mr James Vaux

James Vaux is a researcher and lecturer on Nordic arts, culture, design and history. He has presented extensively on diverse topics throughout his career to demanding audiences across the globe, including CEOs and government ministers. His talks now focus on understanding artistic achievements through their historic, cultural and political context.

James took a law degree at Oxford with First Class Honours and qualified as a solicitor before switching career. As a managing director of the international bank Rothschild, he advised governments and corporates worldwide. He set up and ran the bank’s Nordic operations, living and working in Scandinavia and immersing himself in the countries’ arts, culture and history.

James then gained an MA (Distinction) at UCL in Language, Culture and History (Scandinavian Studies). His dissertation was on Swedish design, and he specialised in landscapes, the Viking Age, politics and literature. He has also studied interior design at Inchbald, Mid-Century Modern at Sotheby’s Institute and electronic music at Point Blank. He hosted a local radio show for four years. He is currently lecturing in Sussex on Scandinavian Modern design, Danish design, Icelandic literature, Swedish literature and the role of modernism in the Cold War.

GALLERY