Nordic Cool

From the NGV Collection

For many, the streamlined aesthetic of Scandinavian design, with its functional but humanist qualities and truth to materials, epitomises twentieth century modernism. Drawing on the National Gallery of Victoria’s rich collection of Nordic design, much of which was acquired in 1952 by the Felton Bequest, this exhibition celebrates an iconic organic aesthetic that is arguably defined by the principles of Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto, from the early twentieth century. The exhibition looks at the period of the 1920s to 1960s and will showcase leading manufacturers and their designers, encompassing ceramics, glass, silver, furniture, textiles and lighting.