Artek: Where Art Meets Technology

The scene was set in 1935, promotion of modern culture of living was rolling out. Four young visionaries who were way ahead of their time, decided to sell furniture in a way where art met technology with a very modern embellishment. Helsinki’s store Artek was founded by Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen, and Nils-Gustav Hahl. The modern designs that they have to offer are marvellous. Even if your taste is rustic, there are still elements of modern design infused with technological development that will charm you right off of your feet. Architecture has always been imbibed with lots of Art and design. But when you cross that with functionality, clarity and poetic simplicity, you get Artek.

The fruitful union of art and technology can be witnessed in their collection which consists of lightings, furniture and accessories designed by Finnish masterminds of the industry in collaboration with great international designers. Artek’s Nordic design inspired various designers and was also a core element of its success. Alvar Aalto is still central to Artek, forming major part of the timeless designs of their very own collection which in a way would endure his design legacy. Maire was a student who majored in paintings. She brought her modernist art and assimilated it into architecture. Under Maire’s direction, Artek organised many exhibitions by world famous artists such as Picasso, Léger, and Calder, establishing Artek as a gateway for international culture in Finland. In 1950, she founded the Artek Gallery.

Though the immediate instinct was to professionalise the international distribution of the Aalto’s designs, the Manifest tied Artek to a cultural mission far beyond the purely commercial.

With headlines like Modern Art, Industry and Interior Design, Propaganda, the Moto makes Artek’s aims clear: to achieve a synthesis of the arts, improve everyday living, and bring modernism to Finland.

The first Artek store was quick to establish its root in the heart of Finland by brining international cultural developments and portraying inspirational objects by fellow seller companies. Artek was more than a furniture store. It was now an institution where furniture, lights, accessories etc. was viewed as art and will always be a destination of international stature.

Artek’s founders started experimenting with a lot of different raw material to bring their imagination for a particular piece to life, such as wood, pressed plywood and laminated birch lamella. They yielded the most sought after designs of their time.

Coming back to present, Artek has successfully expanded its horizons and now also sells souvenirs lounge chairs, complements, shelving, etc. all into numerous patterns and textiles that go hand in hand with the current trend. Artek also converts empty spaces into chic and accessible ones.

Achieving many milestones on the way, Artek is famous for their entrée in Milan and Helsinki design weeks. They have won the first even German sustainability award for design which lets us know the eco- friendly model of the brand. It has also opened a store in Tokyo, Japan and is also working towards being a platform for pre- loved furniture. The buy now keep forever concept is in sync with the brand Artek. The lucidity yet ravishingly beautiful designs will definitely catch your eye. Truly Artek is where and industrialist can attain poetic simplicity.