From Hawaiian prints to acoustic curtains

The success achieved by students in recent years in international design competitions has been based on a strong vision of fashion and an in-depth knowledge of textile structure, materials and production methods.

The Tekstiili16 exhibition space, which is rich in atmosphere, showcases a total of 19 works that were created as part of innovative cooperation projects and they extend textile expertise into the field of science.

'The Tekstiili16 Exhibition is this spring's most important event. We are making textile design expertise and processes related to design work more well-known also to the general public. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience a multifaceted exhibition. Today, textile design creates fashion, but it also involves science, technology and art,' Professor Maarit Salolainen describes.

Maija Järvinniemi's animated video piece Machina Animata featured at the exhibition has been created specifically around the Tekstiili16 exhibition concept. In the piece, a thread comes to life an accompanied by music stretches and winds into a textile accompanied. At the same time, the work depicts the cacophony of the mind, which the creative process produces and in which the designer gets caught up both in the good and the bad.

Also on exhibit, is a video created by Jenna Ervasti that looks into the material development and design process leading up to the creation of Maria Korkeila's men's wear collection, her Bachelor's thesis work which received two awards at Näytös16. Additionally, Ervasti's documentary Interlaced interface describes the design, creative and production processes behind the Tekstiili16 Exhibitions works.

The exhibition includes Milla Linttilä's and Miisa Lehto's textile collections, Elina Laitinen's Pyhävaate clothing collection, Teija Vartiainen's clothing material collection, as well as Hanna-Kaisa Korolainen's modernised Hawaiian prints. Reeta Ek's works are now Nanso's and Lapua Kankurit's new lines.

Tiina Paavilainen's work deals with new types of perspectives and thoughts in the design of fil coupé textiles. Aura Kajaniemi's works have been created using experimental beadwork methods. Sandra Wirtanen's tufted work was designed and created especially for the Turbiinisali space.

Petra Haikonen's work showcases the experimental design and development process of thin acoustic curtain textiles. The piece created by Oldouz Moslemian and Martin Genet explores the dynamic characteristics of materials as a method for building functional entities.

Laivi Suurväli's textile pieces explore social challenges. Aamu Salo wants her work to explore new perspectives for the examination of things by questioning our environment.

The lighting artwork in the exhibition space was created on the basis of a lighting design by Simo Serpola in cooperation with Anna Sorri. Cooperation between Kajsa Hytönen, Wesley Walters and Salla Luhtasela resulted in the creation of the Putki furniture collection, which is made from laminated oak and natural fibre textiles.

The exhibition features the strategic cooperation between the School of Chemical Technology and the School of Arts, Design and Architecture: Chemarts. Its most important purpose is to inspire students and researchers to work together in studying biomaterials and creating new cellulose and biomaterial concepts of the future.

For further information, please see http://tekstiili16.aalto.fi/