Contemporary Art & Design presents: Innovative Swedish design
Contemporary Art & Design
Nordic's leading auction for contemporary art and design is back. This fall's Contemporary Art & Design features a captivating fusion of classic design and groundbreaking works by prominent figures in the emerging Craft/Design movement. Among the highlights are influential artists and designers who not only challenge our present but also shape the design icons of the future. Discover fascinating objects that blend historical craftsmanship with innovative aesthetics and novel ideas. With these works, you have the opportunity to enrich your home with design that reflects the present and also has the potential to become a worthwhile investment.
When is the viewing and auction?
Viewing: October 20 – 24, Berzelii Park 1, Stockholm
Open: weekdays 11 am – 6 pm, weekends 11 am – 4 pm
Auction Live: October 25, Arsenalsgatan 2, Stockholm
Craftsmanship in a New Era
For many years, craftsmanship was considered outdated, but in the 21st century, the term has become increasingly associated with innovation and boundary-pushing creation. The so-called Craft/Design movement symbolizes a shift, where educated designers break away from traditional norms of craftsmanship, establish their own studios, and create unique, high-quality products with a focus on small-scale production. A central aspect of this movement is the artists' complete control over the creative manufacturing process, showcasing their craftsmanship skills from design to execution, which stands in a strong contrast to mass-producing factories.
Now, there is a growing interest in the processes and material knowledge that form the foundation of craftsmanship. This involves renewing traditional craft processes, promoting sustainability, and maintaining a close relationship with the material – something particularly relevant in light of our current climate challenges. By putting craftsmanship at the forefront, large-scale production can gradually be replaced by uniqueness, personalization, and environmental consciousness.
In the contemporary art scene, we find ourselves in an exciting time where creativity and individuality go hand in hand with responsibility and sustainability. Several Swedish artists within the Craft/Design movement have gained international recognition and exhibit in prestigious places such as Art Basel in Miami.
Eva Hild's sculpture 'Interlace'
Designer and artist Eva Hild (born 1966) has played a significant role in contemporary design and was an early challenger of the artistic boundaries. Hild began her journey at the School of Arts and Crafts in Gothenburg, where she started her career as a sculptor. Quickly breaking away from classical norms, she began to explore the possibility of being both an artist and a designer simultaneously. Hild's work became an important influence for the Craft/Design movement that flourished in the 21st century, and her creative vision has inspired many within the Swedish art scene. She is represented in museums and art collections nationally and internationally, including Musee de Sèvres in Paris, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Museum of Contemporary Ceramics in Shanghai, and the National Museum in Stockholm.
Hild primarily creates sculptures in white or black stoneware clay, characterized by beautiful curves and matte, almost powdery surfaces that resemble the texture of skin.
Jenny Nordberg's floor mirror '3 to 5 seconds'
Jenny Nordberg (born 1978) is an industrial designer and creator based in Skåne. Nordberg works exploratively to expand the contemporary view of design and the role of designers. With her projects, she is driven by a quest for alternatives to and strategies against irresponsible mass production. Aesthetically, her work is characterized by a sharp combination of brutalism and minimalism, often incorporating humor and chance as essential elements. Jenny Nordberg's work, operating in the field between design and art, focuses on how we produce and consume today, how we have done so historically, and how this could be different in the future. By exploring these questions, Nordberg aims to change the conditions in the field of design and encourage designers to take a more engaged position.
Nordberg's mirror project, "3 to 5 Seconds - Rapid Handmade Production," emerged from the idea of creating interesting handcrafted furniture objects at the same speed as mass production. Her rule was that each object should be manufactured in three to five minutes. In 2014, she began researching antique mirror production and found the process and the resulting mirrors captivating. Since then, Nordberg has been working with this traditional method to create the mirrors. The process, rooted in the 19th century, involves applying a thin layer of silver (Ag) onto the glass surface. As the entire surface of the glass is not covered, each mirror becomes unique due to uncontrollable fluids in the manufacturing process.
Nordberg is currently showcasing her solo exhibition at the Design Museum in Helsinki, One of her specially ordered mirrors is being presented at the Contemporary Art & Design exhibition this autumn.
Hanna Hansdotter's sculpture 'Dripping print'
Hanna Hansdotter (born 1984) has emerged as one of the most acclaimed designers of our time, using glass as an artistic form of expression. She operates her studio in Kosta and Boda. Her work ranges from small-scale productions to public installations, including her most recent creation, a 5-meter-tall sculpture on Sergelgatan in Stockholm.
Hansdotter's final exhibition, "Avtryck," at Konstfack in 2017 marked the beginning of a new expressive visual language, incorporating glass vases as artistic sculptures. Her glass artworks navigate between the ornamental and the abstract, where the technique redefines the blown glass form. Her sculptures garnered significant attention early on and quickly led her to the gallery scene.
Her works can be found in numerous collections around the world, and she is represented in institutions such as the National Museum and the Röhsska Museum. During the fall exhibition of Contemporary Art & Design, her striking sculpture "Dripping Print" from 2018 will be presented.
Finn Ahlgren's 'Trash sideboard'
Finn Ahlgren (born 1977) was previously part of the Swedish-Dutch design duo Godspeed but has been working under his own name since 2014. He creates unique, made-to-order furniture and objects. Ahlgren's design approach is conceptual, challenging norms and traditions by incorporating recycled materials and a non-conventional design language. He finds beauty and functionality in what others may deem unusable, such as discarded wood, thus highlighting the unsustainable consumption of design and furniture in our society. His creations go beyond the boundaries of mere aesthetics and practicality, carrying a message of responsibility. Ahlgren has earned recognition as a pioneer in the field of contemporary design.
Ahlgren gained attention for his concept "Settle for Less" during Stockholm Design Week 2022. The scrapwood sideboard, one of the first pieces he has independently created and signed, is available at this fall’s Contemporary Art & Design and holds the potential to become a sought-after collector's item!
For requests & condition reports Contact our category specialists
Stockholm
Jonatan Jahn
Head Specialist Contemporary and Modern Design
+46 (0)703 92 88 60
Stockholm
Camilla Behrer
Head of Design/ Specialist Modern & Contemporary Decorative Art & Design
+46 (0)708 92 19 77
Stockholm
Eva Seeman
Chief Specialist Modern and Contemporary Decorative art and design
+46 (0)708 92 19 69
Stockholm
Björn Extergren
Head of Consignment and Sales Department, Fine Art. Specialist Antique Furniture, Decorative Arts and Asian Ceramics
+46 (0)706 40 28 61