Australian comedian and design aficionado, Tim Ross brings his internationally acclaimed Modernist design show, How Much for the Green Chair with the Wooden Legs?, to CoCA. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of their stunning Mid Century gallery, the Centre of Contemporary Art
presents a stellar program of events surveying Mid Century Modern design and architecture, with Tim’s show a stand out
offering not to be missed.
How Much for the Green Chair with the Wooden Legs? is a nostalgic look at our childhoods, collecting modernist designer pieces and touring the globe performing in
architectural gems. Weaving together his obsession for all things Modernism with his comic story-telling genius, Tim
presents an utterly unique perspective on Mid Century design, highlighting the striking simplicity of the modernist
movement, a much- needed antidote to today’s often overabundant yet empty design.
A self-proclaimed design nerd, and one of Australia’s comedy greats, Tim is best known for his work in radio and TV,
winning an AWGIE award for Streets of Your Town, which aired in New Zealand on Choice TV. In 2012, Tim premiered his live Man About the House show, re-inventing the design lecture with an alchemy of comedy, anecdote, music and an unbridle passion for Modernist
suburban architecture, and has since performed to sold-out audiences in extradinary houses by celebrated Australian and
New Zealand architects including Harry Seidler, Robin Boyd, Glenn Murcutt, John Wardle, and Auckland’s first ‘city
architect’, Tibor Karl Donner.
Tim has performed at the Venice Biennale, the London Festival of Architecture - where the The New York Times called his performance a ‘must-see event’ - and in 2016, was invited to speak at the opening of the London Design
Museum. In May this year, Tim was awarded the Australian National Trust Heritage Award for Advocacy.
Tim’s hour-long show launches CoCA’s upcoming Mid Century Modern: The Morrison Collection, an exhibition that journeys through the personal and fascinating back stories behind significant pieces of modernist
design from the expansive private collection of Christchurch furniture dealer, Ross Morrison and his son, Nico. Like
Morrison, Tim Ross is the son of an antiques dealer, growing up immersed in the world of European antiques and design,
which now defines much of his professional passion and personal collection.
Tim will perform How much for the Green Chair with the Wooden Legs? for one night only in the Mair gallery at CoCA onSaturday August 25th 6-8pm. Tickets are $45, includes post-show
drinks and canapes, and are on sale now at the CoCA website athttp://www.coca.org.nz/events/