"Kaj Franck Exhibition: Timeless Finnish Design" to Be Held at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery Next January
A major retrospective of Finnish design master Kaj Franck will be held at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery from January 16, 2027.Summary
A major retrospective of Kaj Franck (1911–1989), a leading Finnish designer, titled "Kaj Franck Exhibition: Timeless Finnish Design" will be held at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery in Hatsudai, Tokyo, from January 16 to March 22, 2027. Born in Viipuri, Grand Duchy of Finland (now Russia), Franck graduated from the Interior Architecture department of the Central School of Arts and Crafts in Helsinki (now Aalto University) and went on to design for major Finnish manufacturers including Iittala, Arabia, and Nuutajärvi Glassworks. Pursuing thorough functionality and simple beauty, he created series such as "Kartio," "Kilta," and its successor "Teema," transforming product design. The exhibition features over 250 works centered on the collection of the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design, including glassware, ceramics, fabrics, sketches, photographs, and films, revealing the full scope of his work from early to late career. It also introduces Franck's ties to Japan—he was drawn to Japanese culture and visited multiple times—as well as works by later designers influenced by him.
(Source：美術手帖)