Come On, See Happy!

By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 26, 2013 8:40PM

We stumbled upon The Happy Show while exploring the Chicago Cultural Center floor-by-floor with a friend from out of town. Stefan Sagmeister is an Austrian graphic designer with a firm in New York City, and a brief introduction to him splashed on a bright yellow wall revealed he was well known for designing album covers and box sets for everyone from the Rolling Stones to the Talking Heads.

It made sense, then, that one of the first things that struck us upon walking into the main room was the music. It was affecting and emotional without pulling focus from the exhibit, somehow adding weight to the words.

The Happy Show has an open structure that you can either wander through randomly or follow “in order,” but either way you go, you’ll get something out of it. Sagmeister presents it as his personal exploration of what happiness is and how to get there, so walking through the exhibit feels like walking through the artist’s diary. You’re given different ways throughout the exhibit to interact with the pieces and think about your own happiness. It leans towards being a giant infographic at times, but then a personal touch like a tray with the artist’s favorite ginger candies, or a visually arresting quiet moment erases the clinical feel.

Sagmeister’s artistry always shines through, and his voice is as apparent in the larger installations as it is the small touches. He has a way of drawing you in, and The Happy Show manages a good balance of the fun, introspective, and beautiful. At one point, he mentions meandering drives with “music you don’t know well but know that you’re going to like” as something that makes him happy, and that’s a good metaphor for the exhibit. This is a free exhibit, and it’s worth the stroll to learn a little bit about yourself and a lot about the artist.

The Happy Show runs through Sept. 23 on the fourth floor of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

By: Marielle Shaw