Maija Lavonen – Quietly Monumental
Muualla
In my work, I seek a human message in the hope of offering something to the weary. I want to convey the movement of summer light over the sea, the song of the waves, the reddish hues of rocky islets, the burn of the sun, and the warmth of stones beneath slowly drifting clouds.
– Maija Lavonen, 1984
Maija Lavonen(1931–2023) was a pioneering figure in Finnish textile art, elevating textiles as a medium and expanding it into spatial works of art.
Starting her career as a clothing and printed fabric designer, Lavonen founded Poppi Boutique in Helsinki in 1968, a cutting-edge venture at the intersection of fashion and visual art. In the 1970s, she transitioned to becoming a full-time textile artist and soon emerged as a leading figure during the golden age of Finnish textile art in the 1980s, particularly known for her works in public spaces. One of her most famous pieces, Nature as Source, can be seen at the Ministry of the Interior.
Lavonen was a master of simplicity, with a unique ability to capture the harmony of nature and the movement of light in fabric. She approached her art with curiosity, continuously experimenting to refine her expressive methods. Bold innovations—such as incorporating stone, steel, and optical fibres into her textile work—combined with a deep respect for craftsmanship, made her an inspiration to future generations of designers and artists.
Maija Lavonen – Quietly Monumental is a one-of-a-kind exhibition in its scale, highlighting Lavonen’s artist archive, which was acquired by the Design Museum in November 2023. Alongside archival material, the collections of the Architecture and Design Museum feature over 20 of Lavonen’s unique textile works and printed fabrics. Additionally, the exhibition will feature works on loan from other collections and private individuals.
Photo: Maija Lavonen participated in a group exhibition at the Hélène Aziza Gallery in Paris in 2012 with her optical fibre artwork. The exhibition also featured the French photographer Xavier Lambours, who took this photograph of Maija Lavonen during the exhibition. Image: Xavier Lambours.