Years 1932–1939 - Design Forum Finland

Exhibition activities begin 1932–1939

The early years of the Society 1875–1900
Exhibition activities begin 1932–1939
The birth of Finnish Design 1951–1959
Design takes a stand 1963–1975
Finland Designs and Design Forum is established 1979–1993
Classics and new trends 1993–2000
The turn of the millennium 2001–2006
Internationalisation initiatives 2007–2010
Years of major projects 2010–2015
Strategy changes 2015–

1932

In 1929, the Finnish Society of Crafts and Design and the Ornamo Art and Design Finland organisation began to organise annual exhibitions of applied arts. Fashion and clothing joined the exhibition for the first time in 1932, and the grand sculpture hall of Kunsthalle Helsinki was reserved for fashion.

The commissioner and exhibition architect of the annual exhibition was Arttu Brummer-Korvenkontio. The opening ceremony of the exhibition on 26 November 1932 was a big high society event, which was attended by the First Lady Ellen Svinhufvud.

The press was also very interested in the exhibition. The magazine Kotiliesi reckoned that fashion art was put forward in order to gain even more attention for applied arts. Renown Finnish fashion boutiques and businesses participated in the exhibition. The magazines showcased, among others, the red evening gown of Salon Ståhlberg, the Boutique Kuosmanen’s evening gown made from light brown silk, and the collection manufactured by Stockmann’s couture studio which included a black velvet evening coat. Sports clothes were also present, their fabrics weaved by the weavers of Greta Skogster.

The fashion creations were draped on statuesque metallic ‘mannequins’, which were designed by Elna Kiljander and manufactured by Taito Oy. Naturally, a fashion show was held in conjunction with the exhibition.

1933

The predecessor of the Triennale di Milano was the Monza Biennial, which turned into a triennial in 1929 and moved to Milan, where an exhibition palace was built for the Triennale.

The Finnish Society of Crafts and Design and the Applied Art Association in Finland ORNAMO shared the responsibility for Finland’s section in the 1933 Triennale. Exhibition architect Harry Röneholm’s design was ingenious and suitable for the harsh budget; the exhibition tables were packing cases covered with Enso cardboard that had been painted black, and the display cabinets were ordinary shop cabinets and counters. 50 Finnish companies or creators participated in the exhibition. Finland received a total of 34 prizes and Harry Röneholm, Elsa Elenius and Maija Kansanen received the Grand Prix prizes.

The Italian press praised Finnish design, and both King Victor Emmanuel III and Prime Minister Benito Mussolini visited the Finnish section and purchased Finnish artefacts there. Finland’s success made industrial arts more appreciated among other industries, but the success and the publicity brought by it were not utilised like they would be in the 1950s.

Photo: Ceramic vase, Elsa Elenius

1939

The Housing Exhibition was opened in the Exhibition Hall on 7 October 1939, but due to the threat of war, it had to be shut down only four days later. However, despite the exhibition’s short duration, 15,000 people managed to visit it.

The exhibition was organised by the Asuntoreformiyhdistys, the Applied Art Association in Finland ORNAMO, the Finnish Association of Architects and the Finnish Society of Crafts and Design. Alvar Aalto acted as the chair of the exhibition committee and Kaj Englund as the exhibition architect.

The exhibition examined the housing question comprehensively and offered advice for the improvement of the quality of housing. Kaj and Li Englund had created interior designs for entire rooms for the exhibition. The exhibition also included a small farmer’s home furnished with Ilmari Tapiovaara furniture. Furniture made by Artek and the Kerava carpenter factory, among others, was on display. Of the textiles, the elegant furniture fabrics and curtains of Greta Skogster-Lehtinen, and of the lamps, the lamps of Paavo Tynell and Lisa Johansson-Pape, are mentioned.

The exhibition was international, for Finland’s neighbours Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Estonia all had their own sections in it.