Finnish Lifestyle. Design illuminates everyday life.

Finland, a nation of forests and lakes. Finnish designers have long emphasized harmony with nature as part of their creations, dating back as far as the turn of the 20th century and long before the symbiosis between people and nature became widely recognized around the world. Be it to aid in passing the harsh, sunless winters, or in enjoying those precious moments of summer, these designers have sought to enhance people’s lives through the incorporation of brightness and flexibility into their work.
　This exhibition introduces approximately 800 articles of furniture, ceramics, glass, tableware, and textiles, forming a rich tapestry of Finnish life. It includes impressive work from the masters who are loved throughout the ages, such as Alvar Aalto (1898-1976), Aino Aalto (1894-1949), Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999), and Kaj Franck (1911-1989), as well as modern designers, such as Oiva Toikka (1931-2019) and Fujiwo Ishimoto (1941-). The exhibition also introduces a wide variety of designs that have developed in Japan under the influence of Finnish trends, Finnish artistic handcrafts such as himmeli and birch handcrafts, and elements of the Finnish lifestyle, like the sauna culture, that have helped give rise to such exemplary designs.