Equal terms collaborations focus for Swedish pavilion at the London Design Biennale
Swedish designers and producers tries new model for cooperation based on shared responsibility for costs and profits. The goal is more democratic, more sustainable, more local and more environmentally-aware designs.
“The exhibition is based upon an idea of tighter collaborations between designer and producers in Sweden. It’s also emphasizing the importance of a re-introduction of the artistic process within production. We need to find new ways of producing by going local again and questioning unsustainable business models,” says curator Jenny Nordberg.
In September 2016 the first ever London Design Biennale will take place with national pavilions from 35 countries. The Swedish pavilion, Welcome to Weden, is a design exhibition promoting the strength in working together through a new model for cooperation. Fifteen pairs of designers and manufacturers have been invited to work together on more equal terms.
The exhibition follows in the footsteps of the collaborative model that developed in Sweden during the utopian early 20th century; a period when crafts and industry blossomed, when connections between designers and manufacturers were inherently strong and mutually advantageous and room was left for incremental experimentation and development. Over time this model has altered, slowly becoming more dysfunctional and defined more by disruptive market forces than by shared goals.
The participants in the exhibition have been asked to try out a new model based on shared responsibility for both costs and profits. The belief is that this new non-hierarchical model will lead to more democratic, more sustainable, more local and more environmentally-aware design.
“It’s about testing our limits and about finding common solutions to our problems; to challenge the material and test ourselves and our craftsmanship. It’s about risking failure in order to achieve the result we want.Doing that demands other driving forces than fast cash,” says designer Lovisa Hansson on her collaboration with Njudung Snickerier.
Designers + producers
Andréason & Leibel + Humi-Glas
Glen Baghurst + M & E Ohlssons Klockgjuteri
Maria E Harrysson + Skillinge Emalj
Louise Hederström + Studio Carina Grefmar
Lisa Hilland + Kullaro
Milan Kosovic + Thomas Alexandersson
Studiotrojka + Jonas Larsen
Lovisa Hansson + Njudung Snickerier
Kajsa Willner + AC Snickerier
Jangir Maddadi + Jarls Gjuteriservice & Lammhults Gjuteri
Sara Larsson + Gafs Kartong
Pia Jonsson & Per Liljeqvist + Recticel
Dan Ihreborn + Emmaboda Granit
ELAKFORM + Formenta
Ludvig Löfgren + Mönsterås Metall
The exhibition is produced by Form/Design Center in Malmö, Sweden, and is a collaboration between Embassy of Sweden in London, Malmö City, Swedish Institute and Swedish Arts Council.
For more information, please contact:
Jenny Nordberg, Curator: jenny@jennynordberg.se, +46 (0) 707 127442
Johanna Sjögren, Project Manager, Form/Design Center: johanna@formdesigncenter.com, +46 (0) 708 278509
Caroline B. Le Bongoat, Strategic Developer & Project Manager, Department of Culture, City of Malmö: caroline.lebongoat@malmo.se, +46 (0) 709 341401
Jenny Bergström, Project Manager, Swedish Institute: jenny.bergstrom@si.se, +46 (0) 732 318526
