Brenner Associates archive

Small archive from the design group Brenner Associates which operated in Auckland between 1949 and 1959. Photographs, ephemera and a copy of a small but valuable memoir written by Stephen Jelicich 'My recollections of Brenner Associates', 1999. 

Brenner Associates comprised of architect and designer Stephen Jelicich (1923-2015), artist and designer Milan Mrkusich (1925-2018), architect Des Mullen (1920-2016) and from 1954 architect Vladimir Cacala (1926-2007). The group came together in 1948/9 through associations at School of Architecture in Auckland and a common interest in the Bauhaus principles, as recorded Jelicich ‘[it] represented the dawning of an era, a wild wind that blew aside the conservatism of the Beaux Artes School of Design, that opened up whole new ways of looking at structures, the built environment, the wholeness of design. I was captivated by all this and began dreaming of a role I would like to play’. The archive captures Brenner Associates interest in creating a ‘comprehensive design service’ from domestic and industrial architecture, exhibitions, interior and retail design and a gallery selling furniture and objects. Photographs of the projects and individual designs document their activities including retail displays for Milne and Choyce, Hollywood Shoes and Patrick Pearce, furniture and lighting designed by Des Mullen and imported furniture designed by Ernst Race. Stephen Jelicich’s memoir records the range of design objects including New Zealand studio pottery by Len Castle, Charles Bond-Smith, woven textiles by Ilse van Randow and imported European ranges including Rorstrand and Upsala- from Sweden and Ekeby and Hugo Pott stainless steel cutlery from Germany.

This valuable insight enlarges our understanding of the dissemination of modernist design, the operation of groups like Brenners and the way they made use of the reduction of import restrictions during the 1950s through the importation of designs. The archive highlights the importance and role of artist Milan Mrkusich who designed displays systems which evoked the integrated relationship between art, design and architecture. According to Jelicich they were made without nails, screws or glue ‘The interlocking parts – panels, screens and textiles supported [each] other and invited inspection. This was the beginning of Milan’s inventiveness and natural application of design principles’ (Stephen Jelicich ‘My recollections of Brenner Associates’).

Brenner Associates was part of the network of art and design galleries and businesses which enthusiastically embraced and promoted modern in design in New Zealand and included The Gallery of Helen Hitchings (1949-51), John Crichton (1951 – c 1968) and jon Jansen (1951 -1960) . Like many galleries, it was notable for the