Stockholm Furniture Fair announces four exhibitions exploring design, innovation and society

Stockholm Furniture Fair 2025 will feature four thought-provoking exhibitions, each examining topical themes. Alexander Lervik delves into a philosophical exploration of light and colour, while Olsson Lyckefors offer a behind-the-scenes look at architectural creativity. Visitors can also explore a critical investigation of plastic as a material through Lund University’s “Plastic Perspectives” and immerse themselves in the timeless quality of Italian design through “Italia Geniale,” curated by the ADI Design Museum.

This year’s exhibitions at the Stockholm Furniture Fair span a broad range of topics, showcasing innovative design, posing questions about societal issues and providing the public with an opportunity to engage with the creative process.

Photo: Micaela Wernberg

“Light Doesn’t Exist” by Alexander Lervik

What is light, and how do we perceive it?

Designer Alexander Lervik invites visitors to explore the philosophical nature of light in his exhibition “Light Doesn’t Exist”. Collaborating with Stockholm Lighting Company, Lervik has experimented with light and colour, creating four cubes in which visitors can experience different aspects of daylight, darkness, reflection and colour.

“Essentially, there is no such thing as light; it is a phenomenon that occurs in the eye of the beholder, just as colour only comes into existence when the eye perceives the reflection from an object,” Lervik says. “Daylight is essential for human survival, yet darkness is equally vital for perceiving light.”

Photo: Fanny Jansson

“Practice Unfiltered” by Olsson Lyckefors

With “Practice Unfiltered,” Swedish architecture firm Olsson Lyckefors takes visitors behind the scenes, providing a rare glimpse into the daily, unpolished reality of an architectural practice. In a world where architecture is often presented as flawless finished products, they aim to disrupt the narrative, presenting early sketches, incomplete ideas and the twists and turns that define a project’s journey. By sharing these raw and formative stages, Johan Olsson and Andreas Lyckefors hope to inspire a deeper understanding of the craft.

“Architecture is not a straight path; it is a journey full of challenges, surprises, and discoveries. It is in these moments of uncertainty that true creativity and expertise are tested, often leading to unexpected and remarkable results,” the architects say.

The exhibition will be housed in a pavilion originally designed by Olsson Lyckefors for Papershell. For the SFF 2025, the pavilion has been rebuilt in close collaboration with Södra and Papershell, showcasing cutting-edge sustainable materials such as CLT (cross-laminated timber) and prototypes of Papershell’s facade panels. Following the fair, the pavilion will embark on its own journey, being reassembled at other locations.

“Plastic Perspectives” by Lund University

Despite its short history, plastic has come to play a pivotal role in our modern society. Today, plastics are everywhere from the oceans to outer space, impossible to remove entirely.

“Plastic Perspectives” raises critical questions about humanity’s relationship with the material. Featuring work from ten designers and researchers, it explores bio-based raw materials, smart plastic use and circular systems. The exhibition, curated by Julia Hertzman from Formprocess, presents forward-looking investigations of plastics, asking, through design, art and architecture, how, when and why the material should be used.

The works are inspired by the STEPS research program at Lund University (Sustainable Plastics and Transition Pathways). The project is funded by Formas and carried out in collaboration with researchers, Form/Design Center, Konstfack and Formprocess.

Exhibition design by Julia Hertzman, Formprocess, in collaboration with Astrid, Bolon, Polykemi and Toniton.

“Italia Geniale” by ADI Museum and Italian Cultural Institute

Originally unveiled at the Dubai Expo 2021 and reworked for the Stockholm Furniture Fair, this exhibition will highlight Italian creativity and craftsmanship across five themes: mobility, health and well-being, imagination, relationships and work.

“Italia Geniale” is curated by the ADI Design Museum, which houses the entire collection of the Compasso d’Oro award, established in 1954 by Gio Ponti to celebrate design made in Italy. From its collections, ADI has selected historical and contemporary objects representing the enduring quality and innovation in Italian design, many of them awarded with the prestigious award.

More than 60 brands will be represented, with timeless pieces by Ferrari, Poltrona Frau, Flos, Artemide and Olivetti, and some cutting-edge innovations like the ones by Arduino and Mogu. The exhibition is promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Sweden, the Italian Cultural Institute in Stockholm and ITA Italian Trade Agency.