Can Design Reveal the Essence of a Nation?

Sweden in Ten Visions was originally developed by curator Ingrid Giertz-Mårtenson for a major festival of Swedish culture in Rome in 2003. The intention was to balance the showcased objects rooted in the past, with a selection of forward-thinking garments from the present day.

”I identified nine phenomena, each one a unique concept that employs design and text to illustrate the elements that characterise life and values in Sweden today,” said Giertz-Mårtenson. “These are our Nature and our Water, our intense seasons with the long Winter Darkness, the longed-for Summer Light and the sparkling Northern Lights; our social model with elements of Equality and Care and our fascination with technology which results in both Innovation and Function.”

To translate these concepts, she worked with artist and avant-garde fashion designer Hjördis Agústsdóttír. “Hjördis crafts visions in fabric as one would render shapes on a canvas. Her canvas is the human body, and with the help of colours and fabrics, details and patterns she expresses strong emotions and creates powerful visual experiences.”

Giertz-Mårtenson and Agústsdóttír added another piece later, to express the very Swedish concept of Lagom which, roughly translated, means ”just so.”

Date: Saturday 18 October to Friday 24 October 2008

Time: 9pm to 5pm

Venue: AUT St Paul Street Gallery 3, 39 Symonds Street, Auckland City

Tickets:  No/Free of charge

Registration: No registration required.

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Media Contact: Petra Mihaljevich, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , ph: +64-(0)9-480 9968