Last October at the Affordable Art Fair in Stockholm there was a section dedicated to the work of recent graduates. Among the artists featured there was also Gustaf Helsing.
Graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Textiles from Konstfack, the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, the largest art and design school in Sweden, Helsing developed a series of conceptual interior design pieces that he calls "Anxious Rugs".
Each rug is inspired by a simple yet complex theme – how to be a young man in today's society and the male role in the modern world (his graduate collection was entitled: "All Men Should Feel Self-Hatred").
Helsing defines his rugs "anxious" as they are characterised by a sense of anxiety: they were woven fast and they seem to be influenced by a wide range of inspirations, objects and people surrounding the designer while he creates.
Rather than using one pattern or material to create geometrically precise motifs or landscapes or any other type of decorative motif, Helsing combined a wide range of materials (polypropylene, cotton rags, sisal and wool) and colours to create chaotic designs that conjure up feelings of angst, apprehension, disquiet, doubt, nervousness, restlessness and uncertainty.
The rugs become therefore a combination of ideas and inspirations and, being often rather large, they take up a lot of space, even though, as they look imperfect and are made with relatively cheap materials, the rugs also seem to be ashamed of occupying vast spaces.
Helsing's Instagram page is particularly colourful and shows the concept and process behind the making of his rugs and some of his installations as well.
Gustaf Helsing's rugs are part of the exhibition "Young Swedish Design 2020" (until 22nd March 2020) at ArkDes, Sweden's national centre for architecture and design, located in Stockholm. The event features 29 designers from a number of disciplines, including product design, fashion and furniture.