User:Krushika Puttaswamy Gowda

Critical reflection: 2018-2019 project
(reflection) `Wikipedia, being one of the major search engines in the world, it has never been with less articles, anyone can always write and edit the articles, and the foundation makes sure to update every article written.

Sherry Turkle says “During the years I have spent researching people and their relationships with technology, I have often heard the sentiment “No one is listening to me.”

In this generation, everyone does everything online, from searching people to online shopping. When everything is already done for us by the technology, I was asked to write a Wikipedia page which made me nervous since anyone can read it.

Writing a Wikipedia page was not easy for me, but with time, I found it interesting as I kept researching on every word or sentence, I did not understand. I was wondering which topic I should choose or what kind of person I should write about.

I wanted to do something simple, like writing about a school back in India, and when I gave my ideas to my tutor, she asked me why something so simple should go on the Wikipedia? What is so great about it that you want it to be there.

The fact that we need to write about something or someone important bothered me, but when I read and heard about Jacques groag and how he is not on a Wikipedia page mattered even more than the school as to why I choose to write about him.

In my personal experience, it was easy writing what I had in mind, but when it came to edit, I almost gave up as most of it was coding and I am not great at that aspect. Researching also was a bit hard for me as most of it was in German and I had to look for something reliable and understanding and when my first upload got rejected, it was like this can’t be happening, I stopped doing it for like two days but then I completed it and made myself clear to every instruction they gave and finally got it uploaded.

Jacques Groag may not be as famous as his wife, Jacqueline Groag, but he was one of the leading architects in Vienna in the 1900s. He produced designs for exhibitions like Britain can make it, festival of Britain, he was also a fellow member of the society of industrial artists and yet he has disappeared from the worlds eye.

Writing this Wikipedia page made me realize, there are people who are famous and are not recognized like others, you either have to get an award or work your entire life, Jacques Groag was one them, he did not get an award but his work was appreciated by everyone including Britain can make it, festival of Britain, even by the V&A Museum.

In conclusion, Wikipedia assignment made me look at things in a different perspective, I was nervous, excited, confused and much more, but in the end, I have managed to complete my research and it was a new experience.

My submission: 2018-2019 project
My site can be found under Jacques Groag

(Full text)

Jacques Groag
Jacques Groag, (5. February 1892, Olomouc - 28. January 1962, London) was an internationally acclaimed architect and an interior designer, originally from Moravia.

Early Life
Jacques Groag, was born in 1892 in Týnecká near Olomouc on 5th February. He was born to a well known jewish family who lived in a malt house, his relatives included his brother Emanuel “Emo” Groag who was a draftsman and a cartoonist, cousin Heinrich Groag was an acclaimed lawyer, who also worked on the domestic and international scene as a pacifist and Nephew Willi Groag was known for his humanitarian work during world war II.

Education
Jacques Groag studied at the German grammar school in Olomouc, later graduated from German secondary school in Manchester, after completing the military service he went to Vienna to study architecture in 1910 with Adolf Loose, a well-known Austrian architect of Moravian origin.

Marriage
Jacques Groag was married to Hilde Pilke in 1937, who later changed her name to Jacqueline Groag when she got married, she was born on the (6th of April 1903, PRAGUE - 13th January 1986, London). She was a textile designer and the ultimate accolade for any designer in Britain. Jacques and Jacqueline first met in the 1930s at a masked ball in Viennese, they got engaged in 1931 but did not marry until 1937. Despite all this, Jacques was unable to devote himself to architecture till the end which caused depression which lead to his death by heart attack.

The Second World War
Jacques and Jacqueline Groag fled with his wife to Prague in 1938 after the Anschluss of Austria, they could not stay long in Prague as they were forced to leave, where they decided to move to London. Despite all the language difficulties, they mainly focused on their designs where they later on worked for British design factory, including Gordon Russell's.

Career
Jacques Groag began to devote a separate creation in the mid-20s of the 20th century, he slowly started working independently and at the same time started collaborating with Viennese architectural offices. He was trained as an architect in Vienna and later on joined Adolf Loos office, he set up his own practice in 1926 and in no time became one of the leading architects in Vienna for working on housing projects, public buildings and private houses. In 1939 after coming to the united kingdom, he joined Gordon Russell's team designing utility furniture. The couple were childless. Jacques and Jacqueline Groag’s estate is housed in the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Post Second World War
Jacques produced designs for exhibitions including Britain can make it, in 1946 and the festival of Britain in 1951, in 1952 he became a fellow of the society of industrial Artists. He also worked on interior schemes and furniture designs with the exhibitions.

External link

 * Artwork by Jacques Groag