The Archive, Stockholm Design Week 2020
The Archive, Stockholm February 2020. Photography by Andy Liffner
“An exhibition celebrating design from Japan and Denmark in one of Stockholm’s most imposing buildings.”
Welcome to The Archive, the first design exhibition to be staged in the impressive Old National Archive building at Riddarfjärden in central Stockholm. The Archive brings together four strong design brands from Japan and Denmark, highlighting shared aesthetics and values between the countries. In this collaborative setting, Ariake, LE KLINT, 2016/ and Friends and Founders are presenting existing collections and new pieces. Each brand has also brought pieces from their design archives, highlighting past and present.
The Archive, Stockholm February 2020. Photography by Andy Liffner
The Archive marks the first collaboration between the four brands and for 2016/, based in the same region as Ariake, it’s the first exhibition in the Nordic region. The Archive also showcases work from a number of handpicked Scandinavian artists.
The Archive, Stockholm February 2020. Photography by Andy Liffner
The Archive, Stockholm February 2020. Photography by Andy Liffner
The Old National Archive in Stockholm, by architect Axel Fredrik Nyström, was built in 1890 and is one of the first purposed built archive buildings in Europe. It’s been a listed building since 1993, with most original features left untouched, including the metal slide for quick transportation of letters and books. The building is rarely open to the public.
The Archive, Stockholm February 2020. Photography by Andy Liffner
The Archive, Stockholm, Sweden. Ariake photographed by Andy Liffner
Ariake, Japan
Represented in the USA by Gestalt New York, Ariake is a relatively young furniture brand founded by Legnatec and Hirata Chair, two furniture factories from Morodomi in Saga prefecture, Japan. Named after the nearby Ariake Sea, Ariake also means ‘daybreak’ in Japanese. Ariake launched in 2017 and had its first exhibition, A Quiet Reflection, in Stockholm 2018. Today Ariake is represented in more than 15 countries. Whilst Ariake collaborates with a number of international designers, all the pieces are crafted in Morodomi, utilizing the best of hand and machine. New 2020 product launches includes the coffee and side table Sake by Note Design Studio, the dining table Lattice and high back lounge chair Summit by Norm Architects, the coat stand Kata by Rui Alves, the sofa Rin by Gabriel Tan as well as new additions to the Aizome series – Aizome wardrobe and Aizome sideboard by Zoë Mowat. The Archive is Ariake’s third exhibition in Stockholm.
The Archive, Stockholm, Sweden. Friends and Founders photographed by Andy Liffner
The Archive, Stockholm, Sweden. Friends and Founders photographed by Andy Liffner
Friends and Founders, Denmark
Available through Gestalt New York, Friends and Founders is a young Danish design brand that launched its first collection during Stockholm design week 2013. Founded by Ida Linea Hildebrand and Rasmus Hildebrand, their collections are elegant and very sculptural, with inspiration from art and architecture. Friends and Founders work in a variety of materials and their collections include upholstery, lighting and outdoor pieces in aluminium and steel. All furniture is designed by Ida Linea Hildebrand and is manufactured either in Scandinavia when possible, or Europe. At The Archive they will show selected pieces and novelties.
The Archive, Stockholm February 2020. Photography by Andy Liffner
The Archive, Stockholm February 2020. Photography by Andy Liffner
The Archive, Stockholm February 2020. Photography by Andy Liffner
Curation by Hanna Nova Beatrice
Styling by Annaleena Leino
Photography by Andy Liffner
Special thanks to Asplund for carpets and Cecilia Tivar for art advice.
Participating artists and galleries:
Simon Anund, Finn Ahlgren, Markus Emilsson, Johanna Grahn Holmström, Sofia Tufvasson and Berg Gallery
Sound Installation by Yasuharu Okochi / Sound Couture (Tokyo)
Composer, DJ and sound designer Yasuharu Okochi has designed soundtracks inspired by Ariake, 2016/ Arita, LE KLINT and Friends & Founders for the exhibition, with each of the four rooms at The Archive playing a different soundtrack inspired by each brand. The sound tracks for Ariake and 2016/ Arita contains sounds of furniture-making and porcelain production, recorded by Yasuharu at the Ariake and 2016/ Arita factories. Special thanks to Sonos for supplying the sound.
Text by Hanna Nova Beatrice