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Alvar Aalto – Second Nature

I visited The Museum of Modern Art, Hayama to see Alvar Aalto Exhibitions on Friday. Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) was a leading Finnish architect of the twentieth century. This exhibition is planned by Vitra Design Museum and Alvar Aalto Museum and touring the world.

We are able to see both detailed drafts and artful works. He utilized natural materials and light for his architectures. Functional, standardized and flexible works such as apartment house and mass-oriented products were introduced as well. A film about transition of Finnish history and industry were screened in one corner.

In this exhibition, I had two discoveries. The first one was a method of softly bending solid wood trees. Stool 60 was made by innovative way to bent L shaped leg and patented in 1933. Here is the video.

The second one was his initiative itself. When I saw the manifest of Artek, my heart was extremely moved. Artek was a company founded in Helsinki in 1935 by four young idealists: Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen, and Nils-Gustav Hahl. The name Artek is a synthesis of “art” and ‘technology’ – concepts central to the international modernist movement that came to prominence in the 1920s. Their goal of Artek was “to sell furniture and to promote a modern culture of living by exhibitions and other educational means”(Artek web site) . Here is the manifest, scroll down the web page and we can select manifest. This was a conceptual diagram of the company that art, design, and propaganda were closely connected, aiming for global activities while collaborating with some organizations. I could not believe that was conceived in 1935.

Hayama is a peaceful place I can return myself. This day I had a day-off and thought about myself in front of the sea. “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get until you open it up.” This is the quote from 1994 film Forrest Gump. I am excited about the future I do not know what will happen. It was mild cloudy and sometimes the sun was peeping at her face.

Photography: invisible-hand

References

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The power of design – Message form Finland

The last session of Nordic studies was held on October 14th at Freedom University in Omotesando, Tokyo. The guest speakers were Samuli Helavuo and Elina Aalto. Samuli san is a Finnish designer and Elina san manages design office Aalto+Aalto with her husband in Helsinki. The main topic was the meaning and the role of design. We heard futuristic and influential stories that design brings.

The goal was to make the topic easy to approach

Samuli Helavuo is mainly focused on product design, but also works with art and interior architectural projects. He is interested in functional design combined with aesthetic pleasure (JFDA website, 2018). He has various fields of experience, he learned business school, worked in the sales and marketing field, travelled 7 month, then got a bachelor degree in Art and Design. Now he is working as a freelance designer while enrolled in the master’s degree at the Department of Art Design and Architecture at Aalto University. He designed “Edit” that was Edit shelf, space divider and cloth rack for Finnish design brand Hakola. It could easy to assemble and named for Editing the life. I consider that the way to his designer is based on the Finnish education system that can motivate and rework as much as possible.

The product I received the most impression is “Pupa”. While working on design, he became interested in what the world is going on in future. Pupa is the final design in his bachelor thesis named “Insects as Human Food”. According to Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations or FAO, trends towards 2050 predict a steady population increase to 9 billion people, forcing an increased food/feed output available agro-ecosystems resulting in an even greater pressure on the environment (FAO website, 2018). He focuses on insects for food that is one of the protein supplies when people will try to reduce meals and take more vegetables. Pupa is a ceramic container with wooden rid design for rearing giant mealworms. He described the goal was to make the topic easy to approach (Helavuo website, 2018). He changed the difficult topics to be empathize through designing. He keeps balance within his identity by doing two wheels designing what he wants to do and contributing to the society through insects for food.

The power of design

Elina Aalto has three children and manages Aalto+Aalto with her husband, Klaus Aalto. Aalto+Aalto is a Helsinki-based design office working with products, spaces and exhibitions. Their aim is to create special everyday objects with a strong identity and story. Their special skill is managing to make things which are imaginative and different but still simple and timeless (JFDA website, 2018). “Vakka”, a wooden storage box for ittala, is one of the famous products they designed. When Japan Finland Design Association was reorganized in 2011, she became the executive head. Aalto+Aalto is skillful to incorporate playfulness into design and they also devoted to workshops for children. She considers the benefit for learning design from children is developing problem solving and creativity. When children face problems, they can consider by themselves how to change or overcome. Creativity is not the manufacturing itself, but it is indicated how to think and solve the problem. Products or expressions exist one of the solutions.

Through their stories, I felt Finland education system and social system affected their decision-making. Finland has a flat hierarchy between professors and students, bosses and subordinates, parents and children, and also men and women. There are lots of things that we need to improve in order to interact Finnish good ideas with Japanese culture. However I suppose designs and creativities are universal all over the world. On the first day of this session, Makoto Shimazaki (Professor Emeritus, Musashino University) said design was a mechanism to achieve objectives. I recognized making things was not a purpose but a solution. I want to look around the world with a broad perspective and identify issues to be struggled that seem to be my mission. I would like to add my own taste to footprint that our ancestors stacked up. We also need to leave heritages to our descendant sustaining our limited resources. We tend to suppose every time we can generate plan B but there is NO PLANET B.

I appreciated this precious opportunity learning Nordic studies and the new network creation.

Photography: invisible-hand

References

  • FAO. (2018). Edible insects. Future prospects for food and feed security. Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3253e/i3253e.pdf
  • Helavuo, S. (2018). Pupa. Retrieved from https://www.helavuo.com/blank
  • JFDA. (2018). Aalto + Aalto. Japan Finland Design Association. Retrieved from https://www.japanfinland.com/the-finance-pulse/
  • JFDA. (2018). Samuli Helavuo. Japan Finland Design Association. Retrieved from https://www.japanfinland.com/ethics-review/

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What do you value? – Message from Finland

Nordic studies 2nd day was held with guest Saana ja Olli and Viivi Laine. Saana san & Olli san are designers and a couple. Viivi san is an interior architect and designer. The theme of this session was TAUKO, that is one of the Finnish words, meaning “break”. They told about what do they find value in their life and work. I consider these are simple and natural, however these must be sources of happiness. I would like to think how they connect creativity.

What elements are needed to cultivate sustainability and creativity?

Saana ja Olli produce their own 100% hemp textile collection manufactured transparently and locally in Finland (JFDA website, 2018). They live in Turku which is the port city in the southwest of Finland. They renovated their home which was established as a school 100 years ago. They feel importance on food and penetrate vegan. On the weekend they help their grandfather’s farm and get their firewood or meditate in nature. They are designing together and make products using natural and recycled materials. Their trusted friend takes pictures and they use SNS to publicize economically and efficiently. I gathered some pieces what they find value in their life and work (Fig 1). I am especially inspired these three elements. They are learning by doing, for example when they renovated their house or started a business. They have a spirit help each other with their family and friends. They considered all these values are interconnected. Overall, I believe their way of living gives us a hint to be sustainable both in life and work.

Fig 1. What do you value? – Some pieces of Saana ja Olli

What things/experiences in daily life are useful for creativity?

Viivi Laine are living in Helsinki, Finland. Her approach is holistic in which architecture, interior and furniture come together. She strives for simple, functional and ecological solution. Modern heritage describes her work best (JFDA website, 2018). She worked at big architectural firm and engaged in the big projects. As the client’s work style has changed, her project designed the office where employees are free to change space. I considered this was one of the power of design influenced the work style. Now she is a freelance interior architect and designer. She works with two architectural firms and performs high quality work. I feel she has huge responsibility to effect and enlighten people putting her philosophy practice. Interestingly, on the vacation she enjoys hunting with her dog. Her way of spending vacation taught me that it was important to have an original place to return wild. Fig 2 shows some of pieces what she is inspired and finds value.


Fig 2. What do you value? – Some pieces of Viivi san

I recognized that their stories commonly mentioned these following things.

  • They thank to nature and food.
  • They have a place to return themselves.
  • They merge modern and tradition or update modernly.
  • They have philosophy in themselves and their products.
  • They notice the truly valuable ways and pursue them.
  • They don’t force themselves.

After this session, I cleaned up my home because it is thankful space for my family. Can I feel any timeless spirit or traditional culture in my daily life? Do I have any original places that I can find myself? Am I living in a hurry? I would like to interact these precious ideas into my life and work. I believe some seeds which I plant produce creativity.

Photography: invisible-hand

References

  • JFDA. (2018). Saana ja Olli. Japan Finland Design Association. Retrieved from https://www.japanfinland.com/kipp-harbor-times/
  • JFDA. (2018). Viivi Laine. Japan Finland Design Association. Retrieved from https://www.japanfinland.com/vanguard-bureaucratic-suspense/

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Where does the creativity come from?

I am studying Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) at Freedom University. I joined the first session on Wednesday and I learned about the outline of creativity and three viewpoints to know Nordic countries. A lecturer Yuriko Shibayama and a curator Kensuke Iwai instructed to our twenty attendees. This time, I would like to write about the Global Creativity Index 2015 which is one of the impressive theme in the session that the lecturer introduced.

The Global Creativity Index, or GCI
GCI is a broad-based measure for advanced economic growth and sustainable prosperity based on economic development – talent, technology, and tolerance (Florida, Mellander, & King, 2015). Regarding the overall ranking, Australia takes the number one ranking, United States is second, New Zealand is third, Canada fourth and five Nordic counties rank all by 11th. However, Japan is 24th. It seems technology is high but talent and tolerance are challenging.


Fig 1. Top 25 Countries on the Global Creativity Index

Global Creative Class
The creative class includes workers in science and technology and engineering; arts, culture, entertainment, and the media; business and management; and education, healthcare, and law (Florida, Mellander, & King, 2015). Luxembourg has the largest share of the creative class (54%), Bermuda is second (48%), Singapore third (47%). Nordic countries are also ranked high, but Japan is 64th (19%). I think there is a possibility to boost up economic production and wage in Japanese creative class and to interact between Japanese creative classes.


Fig 2. The global creative class map

Creativity, Competitiveness and Prosperity
Global creativity, as measured by the GCI, is closely connected to the economic development, competitiveness, and prosperity of nations (Florida, Mellander, & King, 2015). The scatter graph (Fig 3) shows how individual nations lineup in terms of the connection between the GCI and GDP per capita.


Fig 3. The GCI and economic output

Fig 4 shows the relationship between the GCI and economic competitiveness. The measure of competitiveness is based on the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index. The line slopes steeply upward showing the close connection between the two. In the upper right hand corner of the graph, we find Singapore, the United States, Canada, Finland, Denmark, New Zealand, and Australia.


Fig 4. The GCI and global competitiveness

Entrepreneurship is a key factor in competitiveness. The measure of entrepreneurship is based on the Global Entrepreneurship Index.


Fig 5. The GCI and global entrepreneurship

Japan has high GDP per capita and competitiveness, however its relationship with GCI tends to somewhat weak and entrepreneurship also tends to be inferior compared with the upper right hand corner countries, like United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Along with economic growth, I would like to think about how to make my daily life more creative.

References

  • Florida, R., Mellander, C., & King, K. (2015). The Global Creativity Index 2015. Retrieved from http://martinprosperity.org/content/the-global-creativity-index-2015/
  • Florida, R., Mellander, C., & King, K. (2015). The Global Creativity Index 2015. p14, p25-27, p58-60. Retrieved from http://martinprosperity.org/media/Global-Creativity-Index-2015.pdf
  • Shibayama, Y. (2018). Creative City Nordic Studies at Freedom University. https://freedom-univ.com/lecture/nordic.html/

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SWAN LAKE

I saw the ballet “SWAN LAKE” with my daughter last weekend. It was our first time to see it. It was so beautiful because the movement of the hands and the body was like from a real swan. The music made by Tchaikovsky was romantic. The black swan also attracted us. I heard there were times in which a ballerina plays the roles, Odetto and Odile. My daughter impressed of a Pierrot who jumped so high. It was a wonderful time and I hope I see many tremendous ballet plays with my family.

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Nengajo

Japanese write “Nengajo” or New year cards to show appreciation for the annual relationship. Writhing cards is a little bit hassle. First we need to buy cards at post office. Second we need to print the cards and put some pictures in it. Lastly we need to write a message for many cards.

I consider New year cards change to e-mails because of recently e-mails’ developing. I heard there have been affluent e-cards such as Microsoft publishing.

However this Japanese traditional custom still continues. I don’t know the reason but my grand parents and relatives are looking forward to exchange cards every year. Traditional cards bring some impact and people enjoys to look in one’s hand.