An event commemorating the publication of Lightness: Ilkka Suppanen Design (co-authored by Gustav Kjellin, published by Lars Muller Publishers), a collection of works by Ilkka Suppanen, a leading Finnish designer, will be held. What does "designing lightness" mean...? It is not only physical "lightness," but also a creative approach that encompasses thoughts and forms that are free from "heaviness."
This book is not only a monograph by Suppanen, but also a collection of essays that consider "lightness" as a condition for thought, form, and freedom. With eight chapters organized by theme, leading thinkers explore the multifaceted nature of "Lightness"--from adaptability and abstraction to resistance and **liberation.** Each chapter starts with an essay and introduces a carefully selected work from Suppanen's representative works. In addition, Suppanen's own personal and poetic visual/text essays are woven throughout the work, depicting "Lightness" as an existential stance that traverses the intersection of ethics, design, and imagination. This book provides a new framework for the role of design in shaping a freer and more responsive world.
In the talk session for this event, we will explore the multifaceted nature of "Lightness" alongside Mr. Kenya Hara, who designed this book, and contributor Mr. Dai Fujiwara, and consider the role of design in shaping a freer and more responsive world. (No application required)
| Date |
Moday, October 20, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Time | 19:00 ー 21:00 |
| Venue | AXIS Gallery |
| Fee | Free |
| Organizer | Studio Suppanen |
| Cooperation | AXIS Gallery |
Profile
ILKKA SUPPANEN (Born in 1968)
He is one of the most widely recognized contemporary Finnish designers in the world. He studied architecture and interior/furniture design at the Aalto University, and spent one year at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. In 1995, he founded Studio Suppanen in Helsinki. His scope of work includes architecture, product/furniture design, coin design, radical concept proposals for the automotive industry, and even projects supporting India's untouchables and São Paulo's homeless. Recipient of numerous awards. His works have been exhibited around the world, including at the Venice Biennale of Architecture and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and are permanently housed at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, etc. For his contributions to Nordic design, he has received two of the Scandinavian countries' biggest design awards: the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize (2015) and the **Kaj Franck Design Prize (2020).**