LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION

LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION

ART FOR EVERYONE At IKEA, we re guided by the vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people, so for years we ve been providing people all over the world with functional and affordable design. But we believe that art can also play its part. It shouldn t just be in galleries and museums - it belongs in the home too. That s what the IKEA Art Event is all about; inviting contemporary artists from around the world to cocreate art that can be put in any home, making it more vibrant, beautiful and fun. For the IKEA Art Event 2018 we got to thinking about toy art and Swedish crystal. Unlikely partners? Perhaps. But we were curious.

What happens when you mash up the world of manga, designer toys and comics with the age-old techniques of handmade Swedish art glass? For the IKEA Art Event 2018 we invited eight contemporary artists, representing different artistic expressions, to each produce a crystal glass figurine. Most of the artists had never worked in glass before, and were keen to embrace the challenges and possibilities the material presents. To produce the handmade figurines, the artists collaborated with some of the most skilled glass masters in the world, based in Målerås, right in the middle of Småland, Sweden - not far from the very heart of IKEA. The result? A collection of eight crystal glass figurines that are playful, expressive and accessible - with a whole world inside of them. The limited edition IKEA Art Event 2018 Collection is launching this April.

CONCEIVED IN PLAY. BORN IN FIRE. The figurines are produced at Målerås glassworks in Småland, not far from where the IKEA story began. One of the few glassworks still active in Sweden, Målerås was founded in 1890. As Henrik Most, Creative Leader for the IKEA Art Event project, puts it, We wanted to see what would happen when combining an old craft tradition with young art forms. I think we found something interesting that hopefully can introduce art glass to a new generation. In working with glass, a material with such a long and amazing tradition, we got the opportunity to lift it to the contemporary scene. - Henrik Most, Creative Leader, IKEA Art Event

MEET THE ARTISTS When choosing the artists to collaborate with, the goal was to create both a geographic representation from around the world and a creative mix that would provide a taste of what s going on in the contemporary art scene. I love the art projects because they are so different from working with design. Here you need your intuition to guide you to a much higher degree. It s more about being open to possibilities and creating a genuine trust between yourself and the artist. About nurturing the artist. - Henrik Most. Creative Leader, IKEA Art Event

IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 003.777.38 PH150725 MICHAEL LAU My piece is titled Soul Toy. I believe there is a soul within each piece of art. The eyes and tongue of Soul Toy hint the letters of toy, while the shape of the figure itself suggests the form of a soul. I think this speaks to the piece in a witty way.

MICHAEL LAU Hong Kong artist Michael Lau is renowned for his urban vinyl art that combines pop culture, music, fashion, sport and lifestyle. When asked what inspires Michael to do art, he says, Life and people in general. I think that simply by observing things around you, on an everyday basis, by paying attention to people their behavior how one character is different from another is very interesting to me. This is the first time he has ever worked in glass. I usually produce my figurines in vinyl, or sometimes in plastic. When I do sculptures, I work with fibreglass, stainless steel. I like working with new mediums, so this was such an interesting opportunity for me. Glass has quite a few limitations in terms of production, and I learnt a lot. PH150725

IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 403.777.36 PH150723 COARSE We asked What about the fox who is not so clever, who does not want to trick others? This fox is shy, vulnerable, afraid of the world. Always on the alert, but never ready to attack, she s an outsider among her species.

COARSE Los Angeles-based German duo Mark Landwehr and Sven Wasch have been sculpting toy art since 2003. Known for their unique sculpting style, their pieces often express the vulnerability we try to conceal. Although they love their niche world of art toys, they also love seeing how new audiences interact with their art. This led them to the collaboration with IKEA. The IKEA Art Event 2018 is the duo s first time working in glass. This meant they faced limitations that they otherwise weren t used to like having to design a figure with a flat bottom and back. This required us to go back to the drawing board several times to create just the right shape. We also weren t sure how this effect of colouring the glass would turn out, but we love the final result. PH150723

IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 903.777.34 PH150729 ARKIV VILMANSA My figure is named Hira, which means good dreams. It s an abstract visualization of the life that we ve been through. A character entangled in a power struggle to emerge to the ultimate realm. I wanted to convey that life is simple.

ARKIV VILMANSA Indonesian painter and designer Arkiv Vilmansa has become a name in the lowbrow art and designer toy scene. Inspired by architecture, his work explores deep, curvy lines while celebrating bold and bright colours. No stranger to IKEA products, Arkiv was pleased to be given the opportunity to co-create. My entire home is practically furnished with IKEA, so the collaboration has been like a dream come true for me. IKEA is able to make art happen on a global scale. For me, that s really the achievement of a lifetime. Like most of the other artists involved in the project, this was the first time he had worked in glass. The production method is very different from what I m used to. I m surprised by the glassblowers expertise it s really a special and difficult skill to have. PH150729

NATHAN JUREVICIUS The owl is an important part of my Lithuanian heritage where it appears heavily in mythology. Owls are nocturnal and this one I call Sutemos, which means nightfall. That is also the time of day when I m most creative, when my ideas flow. IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 103.777.33 PH150726

NATHAN JUREVICIUS Canadian-based Australian artist, illustrator and toy designer Nathan Jurevicius is widely known for his dream-like, psychedelic animated worlds and limitededition designer toys. Even though he had never worked in glass before, Nathan was totally up for the challenge the IKEA Art Event 2018 presented. I love creating objects. The idea of experimenting with a material that I have little understanding of is interesting. If someone told me to make something in moon rock, I d be like: Sure!. Now that I know more about glass and the production process I would love to make an entire line in glass. And, just like IKEA, he believes that art should be for everyone. I think the future of art will be about accessibility and reaching a wider audience, he says. PH150726

IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 603.777.35 PH150727 JUNKO MIZUNO I wanted to make a simple, but beautiful figurine inspired by vintage collectable figurines and toys from late 60s to early 70s. I named her Nocturnal because I m a night person. I worked on the design at night, too!

JUNKO MIZUNO To American-based Japanese artist Junko Mizuno, art is just as necessary as eating or sleeping. Known for her paintings, comics, toy designs and illustrations, her work is influenced by Japanese pop culture. As a relatively underground artist, I had never thought a company like IKEA would be interested in working with me. The opportunity made me really happy and excited! she modestly says. The IKEA Art Event 2018 was the first time Junko s first time worked with glass as a creative medium. It was an interesting process, and I learnt a lot. We worked by exchanging emails, sketches and photos just like I always do with toy makers. It was my first time designing a cast glass figurine we had to discuss and change a lot. I d love to do it again if I ever have the chance. PH150727

LUDVIG LÖFGREN I like working with strong symbols like the eye. Turquoise signifies protection against the evil eye. I like working with symbols because it allows me to start digging into history. They have layers and precise messages that many can relate to. IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 203.777.37 PH150722

LUDVIG LÖFGREN Ludvig Löfgren was born and raised in the Swedish Kingdom of Crystal. A certified glass master, he is the only artist involved in the project who is familiar with glass. Today he s known as a driving force in taking Swedish glass art to the next level. This project has been fun and inspiring, he says. IKEA is a completely different company from what I m used to working with, and the artists and toy designers that we worked with are people I d normally look to for inspiration. Ludvig is also pleased that this project will give his chosen medium the chance to reach a wider audience. We re showing new ways of working with glass. And it s an international launch so lots of people will be able to have some relationship to the art. PH150722

IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 603.777.40 PH150730 JOE LEDBETTER My very first design was a bunny. People really reacted to him. He was sort of autobiographical. And he really put me on the map in the designer toy world. So, it felt natural to make a bunny out of glass.

JOE LEDBETTER Influenced by classic animation, underground comics, skateboarding and 80s video games, Los Angeles-based Joe Ledbetter mixes irony, social criticism and mischief to create creatures that illustrate the human condition. Used to working in plastic, this was Joe s first project in glass. Glass has such specific requirements and quite a few obstacles. With plastic, you can form it over a longer period of time. With glass, you have that one shot it has to come straight out perfectly. In the end, Joe was pleased with his bunny. And the process. It s been a lot of fun! One of the best collaborations I ve done. The team has been really open to following my vision, and I feel grateful to be working with such knowledgeable people. I ve always loved IKEA. I mean, 50% of my house is IKEA and that says a lot. PH150730

JAMES JARVIS Drawing is the foundation for all my work, but this is exciting because it s a different type of product in a material that has a real history to it. I didn t realise glassblowing is so human and such an organic process. IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 803.777.39 PH150724

JAMES JARVIS London artist and visual philosopher James Jarvis is mostly known for his toy designs, quirky simplistic illustrations, and comics. Here, he is making a welcome return to the world of 3D products something he said he d never do. But the prospect of working with IKEA was too interesting to turn down. I said I d never go back he says. But luckily for us all he did. And it s a decision he hasn t regretted. When working with larger brands, the original idea tends to get twisted into something else he says. But IKEA have been really respectful of what I wanted to say and how I want to portray myself, which is refreshing. And they have restrictions, which makes it interesting. PH150724

PH150729 PH150730 PH150722 PH150723 IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 The figurine is designed by Arkiv Vilmansa. Crystalline. L15 H3cm. 903.777.34 IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 The figurine is designed by Joe Ledbetter. Crystalline. L7 H18cm. 603.777.40 IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 The figurine is designed by Ludvig Löfgren. Crystalline. L13 H9cm. 203.777.37 IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 The figurine is designed by the design duo Coarse. Crystalline. L12 H12cm. 403.777.36 PH150724 PH150725 PH150726 PH150727 IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 The figurine is designed by James Jarvis. Crystalline. L9.5 H13cm. 803.777.39 IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 The figurine is designed by Michael Lau. Crystalline. L10.5 H11.5cm. 003.777.38 IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 The figurine is designed by Nathan Jurevicius. Crystalline. L9 H12cm. 103.777.33 IKEA ART EVENT 2018 decoration 25 The figurine is designed by Junko Mizuno. Crystalline. L8.5 H15.5cm. 603.777.35

CONTACT UK Press Office IKEA Ltd 225 North Circular Road London NW10 0JQ E-mail: media.lounge.uk@ikea.com Phone: 0845 225 7126