Mythology, Moomin, and People in the Intimate Wilderness
Exhibition outline
Traveling Exhibition – “The Essence of Finnish Design and Culture”
In the design history of the 20th century, even among the top-ranking Scandinavian designs, Finnish modern design has achieved a unique position and popularity. Without limitations of age, or gender, the “Good Design”, targeting everybody, has drawn a lot of attention internationally since the early 1950’s and has a significant impact on the worldwide design scene. Furniture by Alvar Aalto, mass-produced tableware by Kaj Franck or textiles by Marimekko, appearing in this exhibition, are long-life designed products of Finland intended to “enrich life” that, going beyond their original eras and times, are still favored by many homes nowadays. What can be seen in the background of Finnish design, rather than strict principles of functionalism or mere ecological stubbornness, is an attitude that consists in the pursuit of a “modernism good in all aspects for every people”. This philosophy of design was born in the rich natural climate of Finland, among the traditional and essential Finnish life-style of mutual support within local communities and coexistence of human beings with nature. The deep comprehension of the challenges of modern ecology and universalism has been handed down until today.
This exhibition consists of about 350 artworks spanning the various fields of painting, literature, architecture and craft, including the products of designers and brands that made the highlights of the golden age of modern design. A focus will be made on the “Moomin” series, as a symbol of the natural background of Finnish life-style. Through the world-famous story created by Tove Jansson out of the hearth of the life in forests, this exhibition will explore the keywords of Finnish life-style and design. In addition the exhibition will introduce the national romanticism movement and artworks of other artists from the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century such as the painters Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Pekka Halonen, the architect Eliel Saarinen and others. These artists have embraced the landscapes of “Suomi” (Finland) or the mythical world of the national epic “Kalevala” as a source of creativity that leads to post-modern design out of Finnish spirit. Moreover, the chapter 3, as an epilog to the exhibition, will also introduce the latest initiatives of the 2000’s toward eco-housing and public transportation, etc., in the lineage of Finnish “Good Design”.
Dates and Venue
• 07 Apr. 2012 – 03 Jun. Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art
• 10 Jun. 2012 – 26 Aug. Utsunomiya City Museum of Art
• 01 Sep. 2012 – 08 Oct. Shizuoka City Museum of Art
• 19 Oct. 2012 – 24 Dec. Nagasaki Prefectural Museum of Art
• 10 Jan. 2013 – 10 Mar. Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
Organized by
Aomori Prefectural Museum of Art, Utsunomiya City Museum of Art, Shizuoka City Museum of Art, Nagasaki Prefectural Museum of Art, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
With the support of (all venues)
Embassy of Finland in Tokyo, The Finnish Institute in Japan
Special cooperation (all venues)
Finnair
Cooperation (all venues)
Artek, Iittala (Fiskars Group), Scandex, Marimekko, Look Inc., Tuttle-Mori Agency, Japan-Finland Society, The Koumi Suomi Association
Conception and management
Curators Inc.
Conception cooperation
Utsunomiya City Museum of Art
Exhibition official website
http://www.findland-design.com
Partner Institutions
• Artek http://www.artek.fi/
• Marimekko (Fiskars Group) http://www.marimekko.com
• Ittala http://www.iittala.com/web/Iittalaweb.nsf/en/home
• Scandex http://www.scandex.co.jp
• The Japan-Finland Society http://www.nichi-fin.or.jp/
• Koumi Suomi http://koumisuomi.theme-site.com/
• Museum of Finnish Architecture http://www.mfa.fi/frontpage
• Design Museum http://www.designmuseum.fi/en/
• The Gallen-Kallela Museum, Espoo http://www.gallen-kallela.fi/english.html
• Serlachius Museums Gösta and Gustaf http://www.serlachius.fi/en.php
• Alvar Aalto Museum http://www.alvaraalto.fi/index_en.htm
• Amos Anderson Art Museum http://www.amosanderson.fi/
• The Ainola Foundation http://www.ainola.fi/eng_index.php
• Tuusula Art Museum Halosenniemi http://sivustot.tuusula.fi/museot/halosenniemimuseum
• Tampere Art Museum, The Moominvalley Collection http://inter9.tampere.fi/muumilaakso
• Association of Finnish Arts Foundations http://www.stsy.fi/english/esittely.htm
• Art Foundation Merita http://www.artmerita.fi/uk/art_foundation.htm
• Fotum Art Foundation http://www.stsy.fi/english/jasenet-02.htm
• UPM-Kymmene Cultural Foundation http://www.stsy.fi/english/jasenet-06.htm
• Suomi Mutual Life Assurance Company http://www.stsy.fi/english/jasenet-05.htm
• Bank Museum and Historical Archives, Nordea Bank http://www.nordea.fi/760000.html
• HKL (Helsinki City Transport) http://www.hel.fi/hki/HKL/en/Etusivu
• HSL (Helsinki Region Transport) http://www.hsl.fi/EN/Pages/default.aspx
• Post Museum http://www.posti.fi/english/postmuseum/
• Itella Corporation http://www.itella.fi/english/
• Helsinki City Archives http://www.hel2.fi/tietokeskus/eng/archiveservices.html
• Aalto University, Department of Architecture http://arkkitehtuuri.tkk.fi/engl/woodprog
• Collection of Organology, Kunitchi College of Music http://www.gs.kunitachi.ac.jp
• Japan Kantele Association http://hello.ap.teacup.com/kanteletomonokai
• Moomin http://www.moomin.co.jp/index.html
• Japanese Finland Center http://www.finstitute.gr.jp/
First Venue:
Aomori Museum of Art (Aomori Prefectural)
April 7th (Sat) - June 3rd (Sun), 2012
185 Chikano, Yasuta, Aomori City, Aomori 038-0021, JAPAN
TEL.81-17-783-3000
http://www.aomori-museum.jp/en/
Second Venue:
Utsunomiya Museum of Art (Utsunomiya Municipal)
June 10th (Sun) - August 26th (Sun), 2012
1077 Nagaoka-cho, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi 320-0004, JAPAN
TEL.81-28-643-0100
http://u-moa.jp/
Third Venue:
Shizuoka City Museum of Art (Shizuoka Municipal)
September 1st (Sat) - October 8th (Mon/National Holiday), 2012
Aoi Tower 3F, 17-1 Konnya-cho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka 420-0852, JAPAN
TEL.81-54-273-1515
http://www.shizubi.jp/
Fourth Venue:
Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum (Nagasaki Prefectural)
October 19th (Fri) - December 24th (Mon/National Holiday), 2012
2-1 Dejima-cho, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki 850-0862, JAPAN
TEL.81-95-833-2100
http://www.nagasaki-museum.jp/
Fifth Venue:
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art (Hyogo Prefectural)
January 10th (Thu) - March 10th (Sun), 2013
1-1-1 Wakihama Kaigandori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo 651-0073, JAPAN
TEL.81-78-262-0901
http://www.artm.pref.hyogo.jp/
