On the occasion of Artek’s 80th anniversary, the exhibition Artek – Art & Technology will be on view at MC Selvini, in Milan till 9 January 2016.
Artek was founded in 1935 in Helsinki by four young idealists, the architects Alvar and Aino Aalto, the art patron Maire Gullichsen, and the art historian Nils-Gustav Hahl, “to sell furniture and promote a modern culture of living by exhibitions and other educational means.” This marked the beginning of one of the most extraordinary and ambitious projects in the history of furniture. The founders conceived Artek as a platform for modern art, industry, interior design, and propaganda.
The exhibition at MC Selvini presents classics by Alvar and Aino Aalto, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Tapio Wirkkala, and Yrjö Kukkapuro as well as contemporary designs by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Hella Jongerius, and Konstantin Grcic.
The presentation is complemented with material samples, drawings, photographs, and background stories about Artek and the international network of contributors that have shaped the company.
