Daily Times

An exhibition of Finnish products that highlights the Finnish designs has opened at the Zahoor-ul Akhlaque Gallery of the National College of Arts in Lahore. The exhibition aims to introduce the modernist and simplistic Finnish designs in Pakistan. The exhibition included products like clothes, interior decoration products and samples of textiles. The exhibition also gives a brief introduction to Finland’s post-world war struggle.

The ambassador of Finland, H.E. Harry Kamarainen, inaugurated the exhibition among other notable artists and academics. The ambassador of Finland has served in Iran and is fluent in Farsi. He started and ended his address with eloquent Urdu phrases that drew applause from the students. He said that Finland often tops the list of the most innovative countries and hopes this design exhibition will open the “windows of opportunities” for Pakistani students and artists.

Two companies and one designer’s products were on display.

Alvar Aalto was an iconic Finnish designer, architect, and artist. He died in 1976, but his designs still have a market and fan following of their own. He designed on buildings, furniture, clothes, and glassware. Some of the glass was present in the exhibition. His rise as an artist ran parallel to the economic growth and industrialization of Finland in the modern times. His clients included the Finnish elite businessmen and families. He is often considered the most influential architect of Nordic modernism. His furniture is just as popular as his architecture.

The exhibition aims to introduce the modernist and simplistic Finnish designs in Pakistan, it included products like clothes, interior decoration products and samples of textiles. The event also gives a brief introduction to Finland’s post-world war struggle

Iittala is a design company that was established in 1881 and has since then provided cookware and tableware to families across Europe. The company is best known for glassware and art glass which made primarily in Finland. However, now the products also use wood, ceramics, and textiles in their products. The company has design archiving system since1936 which ensure that designs are not too closely related to each other.

Iittala’s catchphrase is “progressive Nordic living.” However, what stands out is their designs which are straightforward and reusable. They usually last for decades. Many top designers in the Finnish history, like Kaj Franck, Göran Hongell, Oiva Toikka, Timo Sarpaneva, Alvar Aalti, and Erkki Vesanto have worked for Iittala for several years. These designers helped the company stay ahead of the curve when it came to designing.

Marimekko home furnishings, textiles, and fashion company which was founded in 1951 in Helsinki, after the World War II, and therefore its design and products were a reaction to the historical events that preceded it. The tone was bold, unconventional and fresh. Marimekko’s bright and wearable fabric left a profound influence on the late 20th-century fashion. Their clothes are said to be a favorite of Jacki Kennedy. Two designers, in particular, Vuokko Nurmesniemi, who uses bold stripes, and Maija Isola, who utilizes large simple flowered prints such as the Unikko poppy, are a trademark of the company and their work is displayed at the exhibition. Hundreds of distinct patterns and designs have helped the company create an international market for its materials. Nurmesniemi’s striped red and white Jokapoika shirt from1956 is still favorite. Isola’s Unikko print pattern was designed in 1964 and are still in demand in the 2010s.

Dr. Durre S Ahmed has taught at NCA for over thirty years and has led the Graduate Program in Cultural Studies. She is also the Honorary Consul of Finland and helped organize the exhibition. She added that Finland is a part of one the most advanced societies in the world, a welfare state from the cradle to the grave. The Finnish prefer simple designs and focus on the fabric a lot. Dr. Ahmed said that these products are expensive but straightforward in design. They are expensive even by Finnish standards, but the models have become a part of the culture. The compositions of the shirts were initiated after the Second World War, simple and effective for the working class. Similarly, the glasswork by Iittala products is often gifted to newlyweds on weddings for their popularity and durability. Dr. Ahmed believes that the exhibition should attract students, teachers, designers, and artists.

NCA’s Principal Dr. Murtaza Jaffery also spoke on the event which was attended by academics like Dr. Rukhsana David, Justice Nasira Iqbal and Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra. Staff from the Finnish embassy was also present there, and a high-tea followed the event in one of NCA’s gardens. The exhibition will remain open for two weeks.

The writer is based in Lahore and tweets as @ammarawrites. Her work is available on www.ammaraahmad.com

Published in Daily Times, September 29^th 2018.