Exhibition Archive

Exhibition information

the 363rd ginza graphic gallery exhibition Marimekko Spirit ― Paavo Halonen / Maija Louekari / Aino-Maija Metsola

November 15, 2017 - January 13, 2018

AD新村則人 / D庭野広祐
Norito Shinmura (AD) / Kosuke Niwano (D)
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Marimekko is a brand now loved by fans all around the world, with its unique design brimming with originality and with its fascinating sense of color. When craftsmanship and industrialization began to merge together in Finland, a woman with a clear vision and an acute sensitivity, Armi Ratia (1912-1979) comes onstage to establish the very new brand, Marimekko. She was not only talented in spotting promising designers, but also pioneering by preparing an open environment where designers could challenge their free creativity from the very start, which led to realize timelessly loved representative patterns. The innovative idea to print all the patterns with the creator’s name and the title on the fabrics still exists today, inherited throughout the years together with the company’s principle to respect the creativity of designers.
This exhibition will focus on three designers essential for Marimekko today – Paavo Halonen, Maija Louekari and Aino-Maija Metsola, introducing their creativities of both art works and design works. The exhibits including four each of their representative patterns for Marimekko, original works and interview videos, will signify the fascination of each individual characteristics. Also in parallel, the show intends to overview the “Marimekko Spirit” within the three, inherited among the successive designers of this company for more than 65 years.
Further, the designers, all three of them born and grown in Finland challenged to create a new pattern under the theme of ‘JAPAN’. Actually none of them have ever visited this country before. The exhibition will reveal how their original ‘JAPAN’ harmonize with the skills and passion of Marimekko professionals, turning their ideas into textile patterns and finally into beautiful fabrics.
Many Japanese have long sympathized in Finnish design for its simple style learning from the beauty of nature to enrich everyday life. Thus, this exhibition also attempts to seek what creativity within Finnish design resonates with the sensibility of Japanese aesthetics.
 

Venue

ginza graphic gallery
DNP Ginza Bldg. 7-2, Ginza 7-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3571-5206 Fax: +81-3-3289-1389
Open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
Closed on Sundays and Holidays / from 28th December to 4th January
Admission Free
5 Min Walk from Ginza Metro Station
https://www.dnpfcp.jp/gallery/ggg/
 

Cooperation

Special Cooperation  Marimekko
Supervised by Minna Kemell-Kutvonen (Marimekko, Design & Product Development Director)
Planning & Coordination  S2 Corporation
Supported by Embassy of Finland 
100th Anniversary of Finland's Independence
 

Events

Gallery Talk
Minna Kemell-Kutvonen + Paavo Halonen + Maija Louekari + Aino-Maija Metsola
15th November (wed) 4:00-5:30p.m.
DNP Ginza building 3rd floor
Admission Free / 70 Seats
*The registration is closed because of full reservation.
 

Opening Party

15th November (Wed) 5:30p.m.-7:00p.m.
ginza graphic gallery/ DNP Ginza Bldg. 2F
 

Collaborating Exhibition

GALLERY A4
[Marimekko Spirit ―Elämäntapa-]
15th December (fri), 2017 – 28th February (wed), 2018
1-1-1 Shinsuna Koto-ku Tokyo Takenaka Corporation Tokyo Office 1st floor
tel:03-6660-6011   http://www.a-quad.jp
 

Profile

Paavo Halonen (born 1974, Enonkoski, Eastern Finland) is a contemporary artist and freelance print designer, living and working in Helsinki. He studied at Turku Arts Academy in the 2000s. Paavo started to design prints for Marimekko in 2011. Paavo has the talent to interpret his inspiration of nature into organic abstract patterns.
 
Maija Louekari (born 1982, Oulu, Northern Finland) is a print and graphic designer.
In 2003, she received 1st prize in a design competition
organized by Marimekko and the University of Art and Design Helsinki, while she was a student at the same university. Maija has been designing for Marimekko ever since.
Her design is characteristic for its graphical and joyful image.
 
Aino-Maija Metsola (born 1983, Helsinki) is an illustrator and a designer based in Helsinki. In 2008, she graduated from the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Aino-Maija entered Marimekko’s design competition in 2006, and her print was chosen to design house’s collection. She has been collaborating with Marimekko ever since. She creates designs that are bold but subtle at the same time, using diverse selection of techniques including water colour, markers and gouache.

Inquiries

ginza graphic gallery (Tanaka): 03-3571-5206