Predicta -Princess- television c. 1959

This Predicta -Princess- television was fabricated by the Philco Radio and Television Corporation, sometime in the mid-20th century. It’s difficult to imagine a world without screens; they’re everywhere, we can’t escape them! Back when this set was made, the technology was so new! I wonder if the designers knew just how completely televisions would come to dominate our attention? The sleek lines and jaunty red and gold color palette speak of optimism and a bright future. This is the kind of object that makes you want to slip into a Mad Men episode. As an artist, I think of all the potential, all the ideas and entertainment this design promised. In a way, it relates to my own practice because it is a tool for seeing and thinking and experiencing the world, albeit in a different way. I love to see how artists and designers are in an ongoing conversation across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.