Story

Snowcrash (1997-2003) started as an exhibition made by a group of young Finnish architects and designers. They broke with the conventional image of Finnish design by using lightweight materials such as nylon fabric and integrating their furniture with high-tech features. Their exhibition during Salone del Mobile in Milan, 1997, made international headlines and Snowcrash was unanimously hailed as the re-inventors of Scandinavian design. Shortly after – Snowcrash was bought by the Swedish company Proventus Design based in Stockholm – which turned it into an international design company.

In the 1990s, Finland and Sweden moved out of a deep recession to become the driving forces behind information technology and wireless communication companies enabled Finns and Swedes to become some of the most connected people on the planet. Unburdened by heritage, Snowcrash thrived in this environment and invented concepts for furniture which contributed to a new typology in office interiors.

Despite the immense success in the media, Snowcrash had to be put on ice after only four years and without any coherent documentation, Snowcrash gradually turned into a folk tale within the international design community. That is until now, when an exhibition and book have been made, which tells the whole story, for the very first time.

Story

Snowcrash (1997-2003) started as an exhibition made by a group of young Finnish architects and designers. They broke with the conventional image of Finnish design by using lightweight materials such as nylon fabric and integrating their furniture with high-tech features. Their exhibition during Salone del Mobile in Milan, 1997, made international headlines and Snowcrash was unanimously hailed as the re-inventors of Scandinavian design. Shortly after – Snowcrash was bought by the Swedish company Proventus Design based in Stockholm – which turned it into an international design company.

In the 1990s, Finland and Sweden moved out of a deep recession to become the driving forces behind information technology and wireless communication companies enabled Finns and Swedes to become some of the most connected people on the planet. Unburdened by heritage, Snowcrash thrived in this environment and invented concepts for furniture which contributed to a new typology in office interiors.

Despite the immense success in the media, Snowcrash had to be put on ice after only four years and without any coherent documentation, Snowcrash gradually turned into a folk tale within the international design community. That is until now, when an exhibition and book have been made, which tells the whole story, for the very first time.

Exhibition

Since 2019, Ilkka Suppanen, Finnish architect/designer and one of the founding members of Snowcrash – together with independent Swedish curator Gustaf Kjellin – have been working with Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Sweden’s museum of art and design, to make the first ever exhibition about Snowcrash. Original designs have been found and collected from private persons and institutions. 37 different objects will be shown along with never before seen videos and images that bring the Snowcrash story to a wide audience.

The exhibition Snowcrash 1997-2003 will open in the spring of 2021 and be open until February 13th, 2022.

Nationalmuseum

Exhibition

Since 2019, Ilkka Suppanen, Finnish architect/designer and one of the founding members of Snowcrash – together with independent Swedish curator Gustaf Kjellin – have been working with Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Sweden’s museum of art and design, to make the first ever exhibition about Snowcrash. Original designs have been found and collected from private persons and institutions. 37 different objects will be shown along with never before seen videos and images that bring the Snowcrash story to a wide audience.

The exhibition Snowcrash 1997-2003 will open in the spring of 2021 and be open until February 13th, 2022.

Nationalmuseum

Book

Gustaf Kjellin started writing and gathering material for a book about Snowcrash in 2018. 35 interviews have been conducted with people connected to Snowcrash and extensive image material collected. The result is a book on 208 pages that reviles the ideas behind the collection, and the challenges and opportunities of facing a new, wireless and digitalised society. It gives a full account of an international design event that offers an alternative view of Scandinavian Design. The book which is edited by Ilkka Suppanen, features an introduction by the english curator and writer, Jane Withers.

The book Snowcrash 1997-2003 is released on March 18th, 2021 and will be available in major international book shops and online. For inquiries about the book, please contact the publisher, Arvinius + Orfeus Publishing AB.

Book

Gustaf Kjellin started writing and gathering material for a book about Snowcrash in 2018. 35 interviews have been conducted with people connected to Snowcrash and extensive image material collected. The result is a book on 208 pages that reviles the ideas behind the collection, and the challenges and opportunities of facing a new, wireless and digitalised society. It gives a full account of an international design event that offers an alternative view of Scandinavian Design. The book which is edited by Ilkka Suppanen, features an introduction by the english curator and writer, Jane Withers.

The book Snowcrash 1997-2003 is released on March 18th, 2021 and will be available in major international book shops and online. For inquiries about the book, please contact the publisher, Arvinius + Orfeus Publishing AB.

The designers connected to Snowcrash shared an interest in the human relationship to technology and their individual responses explored new typologies in furniture and lighting in a rapidly digitalised society. Besides the common use of electronics, the main feature defining its design language is the use of unconventional materials – steel pared with natural and synthetic fibres in various techniques, and other composite materials common in fashion or outdoor activities for their durability and practicality.

The designers connected to Snowcrash shared an interest in the human relationship to technology and their individual responses explored new typologies in furniture and lighting in a rapidly digitalised society. Besides the common use of electronics, the main feature defining its design language is the use of unconventional materials – steel pared with natural and synthetic fibres in various techniques, and other composite materials common in fashion or outdoor activities for their durability and practicality.

Explore the Snowcrash universe with behind-the-scenes images, influences, important events and concepts that helped shape the company from the beginning to the end.

Explore the Snowcrash universe with behind-the-scenes images, influences, important events and concepts that helped shape the company from the beginning to the end.

Contact

Contact

For inquires and questions about Snowcrash please contact
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Exhibition

Visiting adress:
Nationalmuseum
Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2
Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 519 543 00
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www.nationalmuseum.se

Book

Arvinius + Orfeus Publishing AB
Olivencronas Väg 4
113 61 Stockholm, Sweden
ao-publishing.com
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Social media

Contact

CONTACT

For inquires and questions about Snowcrash please contact
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EXHIBITION

Visiting adress:
Nationalmuseum
Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2
Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 8 519 543 00
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www.nationalmuseum.se

BOOK

Arvinius + Orfeus Publishing AB
Olivencronas Väg 4
113 61 Stockholm
Sweden
ao-publishing.com
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SOCIAL MEDIA