Nine Aspects of Ceramics, Art and Industry

The Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C. has invited the Arabia Art Department Society in Finland to organize a ceramic exhibition at the Embassy's Finlandia Hall. The theme of the exhibition is 9 SEASONS. The exhibit showcases new artwork from the nine artists of Arabia Art Department Society, Professors Heljä Liukko-Sundström and Heikki Orvola, Fujiwo Ishimoto, Heini Riitahuhta, Jasmin Anoschkin, Kim Simonsson, Pekka Paikkari, Kati Tuominen-Niittylä and Kristina Riska. A publication named after the exhibit has been created alongside the exhibition. The 9 SEASONS -publication connects Finnish art and industrial enterprise.

Finland is extremely dark, extremely bright, and everything in between. Polar nights and the Midnight Sun bring a unique touch to everything we do. Light, and the lack of it, colors our lives. The title of the exhibition, 9 SEASONS, reflects the diversity of Finnish nature and seasons. Ancient residents of Lapland are said to have divided the year into eight different seasons: fall-winter, winter, spring-winter, spring, spring-summer, summer, fall-summer, and the fall. The Arabia Art Department Society discovers one more season to add to this list.

Art is the Ninth Season

The courage to dream, strong craftsmanship and the freedom to follow your inclinations make the many shades of imagination visible. The nine seasons serve as a reminder of transience. In a world full of machinery and technology the Arabia Art Department Society is a rare and unique community that regenerates the diversity and skill of creating with your own hands.

The number nine also reflects the nine members of the society. 9 SEASONS showcases nine different aspects of art and ceramics that the artists have created at the art department located on the ninth floor. Almost 30 new pieces are on show at the exhibition in Washington D.C. As well as ceramics, other materials used include glass and wood.

9 SEASONS –Publication Makes Art a Part of Finnish Industry

The Arabia Art Department was established as part of a ceramics factory in the 1930s. At the Art Department artists have been able to concentrate on making unique ceramics that sometimes result in ideas for serial production. Nowadays the factory is owned by the 1649 established company Fiskars, which is also the main sponsor of the Arabia Art Department Society.

As a part of the 9 SEASONS exhibition the artists of the society had the chance to make creativity and art a part of the everyday of some Finnish industrial establishments and their know-how. Alongside the exhibition, 9 SEASONS –publication was created in collaboration with Fiskars, Iittala, Stora Enso, Lönnberg Print & Promo, Designmuseum, and CHS Expo Freight. The publication is printed on LUMI paper made by Stora Enso by Lönnberg's engineers specializing in high-quality paper printing.

Graphic designer Paula Salviander took the time to get to know the artists of the society as well as the art department itself to create a visual imagery that best combines the diversity of the artwork as well as the co-operation with the industrial establishments. The artwork was photographed by Jefunne Gimpel for the publication. The text of the publication is by Elise Simonsson who serves as the executive director for the Arabia Art Department Society. The project manager for the publication is Tuula Saari.

The importance of collaboration is pictured in the Arabia Art Department Society's new logo. Jefunne Gimpel's photograph of the nine artists turned into a logo in the hands of graphic designer Salviander. The logo describes the society and community created by the nine artists together. The collaboration has been successful and it is to be continued. 9 SEASONS will be followed by Industry Seasoned with Art.


- 9 SEASONS –exhibition is open to public at the Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C. from October 17 to November 15, 2015 Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4pm.

- Ceramics artist Heini Riitahuhta and her Lumihiutale (Snowflake) art workshop will be part of the KIDS EURO Festival 2015. In the workshop Stora Enso's Lumi (snow) paper and Fiskars' scissors are used to make paper artwork.