Finnish artist and designer Kustaa Saksi is well known for his intricately colourful textiles and hypnopompic tapestries. His fans will be happy to know that, soon, they will not just admire his pieces at museum exhibitions and dedicated events in galleries, but they will be able to wear his prints and surround themselves with pieces characterised by his colourful designs. Saksi has indeed collaborated with Marimekko creating selected home and fashion pieces for the Spring/Summer 2015 season.
The choice is wide and includes home textiles, and tableware, but also jumpsuits, a light coat and practically functional dresses, all of them inspired by the colours of the ocean and underwater life, as Minna Kemell-Kutvonen, Design Director of Prints at Marimekko explains.
Saksi has a penchant for storytelling and the rich scenes with aquatic plants and animals, the Merivuokko (sea anemone) and the Meriheinä (sea grass), were directly inspired by the rhythm, colours and atmosphere of the sea floor as experienced during his scuba diving trips.
Thanks to the rich colours and to the combination of abstract and semi-abstract patterns the vegetation of the sea floor takes a new life, conjuring up soothing mindscapes made with the envigorating energy of ocean waves, swirls and turfs.
It looks like - come next Spring/Summer - it will be possible to get a taste of tropical paradises even while being stuck in the city.
How did this collaboration happen? Were you familiar with Kustaa's works for example because you saw them in an exhibition?
Minna Kemell-Kutvonen: I have followed Kustaa's work for years through different exhibitions and magazines. Therefore I have been familiar with his handwriting already before our collaboration began. Some years ago, we met up with him and we both felt that it would be great to work together. Finally, as we started planning the Spring 2015 collection, we realised that the timing was right and there was a perfect slot in the visual world of Marimekko for Kustaa.
Kustaa Saksi: As a Finn, I grew up with Marimekko. The company's classic shapes have always been an inspiration. It was an honour to design for them, and it was also the right time for our collaboration.
The colours in the designs are very soothing, they almost calm you down, even though there is a lot going on in the prints. What inspired the prints?
Minna Kemell-Kutvonen: Working on the collection, the design team was inspired by water and the force of nature; enjoying the feeling of freedom that one can experience in the ocean and riding on top of a wave. The collection reflects the movement of water and life underwater, and brings these natural elements into the urban environment. Kustaa created his own unique interpretation of this theme.
Kustaa Saksi: I've always been fascinated by the underwater world. I wanted to combine the abstraction, colour and details of these scenes for my collection with Marimekko. It's a combination of rich, detailed patterns with large solid areas as contrast. Combining aquatic, abstract and semi-abstract shapes, flora and fauna together also leaves space for the viewers' own imagination.
Kustaa, what do you like about Marimekko and Minna, what do you like about Kustaa's work?
Minna Kemell-Kutvonen: Kustaa's handwriting is fascinating. It moves at the boundary of illustration, textile art and graphic design and has a very contemporary spirit. He is very good at creating interesting, fairytale-like worlds.
Kustaa Saksi: Marimekko's world has a certain feeling I really like. It's a company with a history of strong women and I think they've always gone their own path, with a very contemporary aesthetic.
So far you have released both clothes and homeware with these prints, would you like to expand them on other products as well?
Minna Kemell-Kutvonen: As Marimekko is a lifestyle brand with fashion, home and accessories lines, we have already incorporated these prints into our repertoire in quite a comprehensive manner.
Where can we buy these pieces?
Minna Kemell-Kutvonen: The items are available at our own stores as well as through selected retailers. You can find our shop locator here.
Will the collaboration continue in the future?
Minna Kemell-Kutvonen: We shall see. The collaboration has been very fruitful, so it would be a shame to stop here.
Kustaa Saksi: I hope we'll have another chance for collaboration in the future. It definitely was a good date with Marimekko!
All images in this post courtesy of Marimekko.
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