The series of independent design and general art events was being held for the eighteenth time, presented the works of more than 160 creatives from 16 countries in addition to the designers of the V4 countries, including a representative regional and Finnish selection, in the Kiscelli Museum between October 2 - November 6.
The purpose of the selection is to adapt to the spirit of the Design Without Borders initiative and its priorities, and to provide a comprehensive picture of the defining role of Finnish design on an international level, of Finnish design education with a unique approach, including the importance of sustainability, as well as the openness, receptiveness and creativity characteristic of Finnish culture. In addition to artists from different generations and present in various fields of design, the selection also includes progressive Finnish brands that are also successful on the global market.
The virtual tour of the exhibition can be viewed from here: https://design-without-borders.eu/2022/#3D
One of the iconic figures of Finnish design is Alvar Aalto, whose pieces that have become design classics were also on display, inspired by his unique vision.
The world-famous Aalto University, named after the master, was represented by two departments, the Department of Design and the Department of Architecture. The former brought environmentally conscious works created within the framework of the Design for a cooler planet project, and the latter brought to the exhibition the best pieces of his latest design task focusing on the realization of chairs.
The selection also included objects from current and former MA students, including Hemmo Honkonen's Audible Furniture collection based on research examining the parallel appearance of sound and movement, and the works of Didi NG Wing Yin, who works on the border between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary art. The Henge objects are made from a single pine log, and their shape is inspired by ancient vessel archetypes.
Among the young talents was Ari Karneva, winner of the furniture designer of the year award in 2019, whose height-adjustable laptop table - designed for Selka - was on display.
The selection would not have been complete without the presentation of Finnish brands with a long history.
The Marimekko concept, which has gained world fame in the world of contemporary design by designing printed textiles and making products made from them, the Unikko pattern designed by Maja Isola is one of the best-known pieces of Finnish design. The Leikko pattern from the brand's latest collection, designed by Erja Hirvi, was included in the exhibition and was made for the brand's 70th anniversary.
The exhibition presented several initiatives for which sustainable operation is an inseparable element of their activities. Founded in the nineties by Tuula Jusélius and Seppo Koho, Secto Design offers lamps made from locally sourced birch wood.
Lapuan Kankurit's collections, which look back on more than a hundred years of history, were made up of beautiful linen and woolen textiles independent of fashion trends. The company also considers knowledge transfer to be extremely important. Thus, they try to make the professional knowledge and intellectual heritage accumulated over several decades available to the younger generations, which is why they cooperate with many educational institutions, including Aalto University.
The founding curators of the exhibition and event series:
Tamás Radnóti interior designer and Szilvia Szigeti Ferenczy Noémi Award-winning textile designer