“Form creates emotions. Emotions become memories. From memories come ideas, ideas return to form. I believe that form and memory are in a cycle, each of them being the same energy in a different state.” This is how Akira Minagawa describes the basic idea, the circular flow, which characterizes the exhibition Design=Memory that will be shown at the National Museum in the spring and summer of 2024.
Akira Minagawa is one of the most prominent Japanese designers and the founder and chief designer of the fashion and textile brand Minä perhonen . Minä means “I” in Finnish and perhonen means “butterfly”. Founded in 1995, it was initially a one-man company but has gradually grown to a team of 200 people. The company’s sphere of creative activities has expanded from fashion to home furnishings and tableware and now includes all aspects of everyday life. Minä perhonen has extensive experience in international design collaborations, including with Artek, Kvadrat and Iittala, and in Sweden with Klippan.
The exhibition explores the design philosophy of Akira Minagawa and Minä perhonen , from the first ideas to the final products but also beyond them. The users’ experiences and memories of the garments and objects play an important role. Together, Akira Minagawa and his team look at how design can, and should, make us happier in everyday life.
In a circular dialogue that highlights the creative process, clothes and design objects from Minä perhonen are shown together with Akira Minagawa’s original works. The exhibition recalls how the Nordic countries and Nordic design have played an important role for Akira Minagawa. A collaboration with Ingegerd Råman is also presented to visitors for the first time.
