Kustaa Saksi: Mythology series (2021). Rotterdam, the Netherlands (2022). Photo: Jussi Puikkonen
The caleidoscopic works of textile art in Kustaa Saksi's exhibition In the Borderlands are created using a 19th century weaving technique – the internationally trending concept of ‘collectible design’ reshapes art and design
Kustaa Saksi: In the Borderlands
At Design Museum Helsinki 05.05-15.10.2023
Press conference on 04 May at 09 a.m.
RSVP martta@juni.fi / tel. +358 (0)040 528 4818
On the borderline of sleep and wakefulness, between art, design and handicraft. The main exhibition of the Design Museum's 150th anniversary year explores Kustaa Saksi´s career and his over 10 years of collaboration with the TextielLab of the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The exhibition at the Design Museum will feature new works by Saksi, including the seven-metre-long tapestries Forest Boy and Ideal Fall.
Digital and analogue methods are intertwined in Saksi's working process. The images he draws on a computer and by hand are transferred into textile works using the jacquard weaving technique, first invented in the 19th century. The jacquard technique was the first mechanized technique in which information about the patterns was processed and transferred to the fabric with the help of punched cards placed in the weaving machine. This is why it is often referred to as one of the early precursors of the computer.
It is possible to produce very intricate patterns on a Jacquard machine, but the limited number of threads restricts the use of colours in this technique.
"I have escaped the digital world and returned to the world of handicrafts. I am intrigued by the difficulty and challenges of Jacquard weaving, having to make do with just twelve threads," Saksi says. "The outcome is a three-dimensional, tangible, complex structure that can be referred to as art, handicraft or design. Working on the borderline offers me freedom of creation."
In his works, Saksi depicts different moments between the real and surreal, for instance hallucinations and migraine auras. His works often explore botanical motives and mythological themes, and the recurring patterns observed in nature.
Saksi's works are among the surge of modern designers who seek to revolutionize woven textile traditions by testing new kinds of techniques and visuality. The textile works are produced in small series of just a few works, and some of them end up in the collections of international collectors or museums. This concept is often referred collectible design: products are made in small series, often partly by hand. The items of collectible design usually have a function, but they are simultaneously regarded as works of art.
Kustaa Saksi
Kustaa Saksi (b. 1975 in Kouvola, Finland) is based in Amsterdam. In his unique works, fractals, migraine auras, psychedelic and geometric features, cultural references and botany come together. Saksi works with modern tapestry taking advantage of analogue and digital techniques. He has also worked with pattern and print design and produced a massive paper installation with Gert Wingårdh, a Swedish architect.
Saksi's works have been featured at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Cooper Hewitt Museum, San José Museum of Art, TextielMuseum, Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Vandalorum Art & Design Museum, Kunsthall Stavanger, Aboa Vetus Ars Nova in Turku, and Kunsthalle Helsinki. He has had solo exhibitions in New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Taipei, Madrid, Brussels and Amsterdam. Saksi has also collaborated with Hermès, Ferragamo, Issey Miyake and Marimekko.
In co-operation with Iittala
More information:
Martta Louekari
martta@juni.fi
tel. +358 (0)040 528 4818
Minni Soverila
press@designmuseum.fi
+358 50 512 2277
DESIGN MUSEUM
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Opening hours:
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Wed to Sun 11–18
Mon closed
Entrance fees: Adults €15, Pensioners €12, Students €6, children under 18 free of charge. Museum card accepted.