Furniture for the Senses – Finn Juhl 100

Finn Juhl

For all in our near Copenhagen, and who aren’t planning travelling to Weil am Rhein in the coming months, the Designmuseum Danmark is also currently offering the chance to view an exhibition that highlights the role of art in the design process.

But featuring works from Finn Juhl. Not Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

One of the most important, if not so universally well known, Danish furniture architects of the mid 20th century Finn Juhl would have celebrated his 100th bithday in 2012.

And as part of their celebrations honouring the man and his work, the Designmuseum Danmark is hosting a specially curated exhibition.

In addition to showing examples of furniture – examples visitors are actively encouraged to touch, sit on and explore – the museum is displaying a collection of restored Finn Juhl watercolours.

Although – as with all great mid-20th century furniture designers – Finn Juhl trained as an architect; as a young man he had planned to follow a more academic career as an art historian. And in his watercolours and sketches one can clearly see the strong artistic foundation on which his understanding of design, form and aesthetics stood.

Which of course is a nice link to Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

Indeed, and at the risk of infuriating design critics the length and breadth of Europe, in Finn Juhl’s naturally, organic flowing form language and seamless integration of stability with artistry, one can see clear parallels to, at least part of, the Bouroullec’s oeuvre.

We’re thinking here especially of works such as the Slow Chair for Vitra, Steelwood for Magis or Facett for Ligne Roset.

We’ve not visited the exhibition in Copenhagen and so can’t comment on it. However we are huge fans of Finn Juhl’s work and are generally of the opinion any exhibition dedicated to him is worth exploring.

The exhibition “Furniture for the Senses – Finn Juhl 100” at the Designmuseum Danmark runs until the December 31st 2012.

In addition to the exhibition the museum is also organising a wider programme of events to celebrate the anniversary, many staged in collaboration with the museum Ordrupgaard in whose grounds Finn Juhl’s house stands.

Further details can be found at: http://designmuseum.dk

Furniture for the Senses - Finn Juhl 100. A watercolour of the Model 45 armchair (Photo: Pernille Klemp)

Furniture for the Senses - Finn Juhl 100. A watercolour showing Finn Huhl's furniture in an interior design project (Photo: Pernille Klemp)