Sunday, 24 February 2008 | Levent OZLER
SUSI: Designers Heini Riitahuhta and Mikko Jarvenpaa
 The concepts and works of designers Heini Riitahuhta and Mikko Jarvenpaa come together for the first time in a joint showing at Design Forum. Entitled SUSI, the exhibition proceeds from themes appealing to both designers, which are presented in a subtle manner through the means of design. On show are items of furniture and small objects of artistic origin taking up a number of themes concerning all of us - the fear of death, war, violence and fear. An example is Finnish Chess, addressing the theme of the Finnish civil war of 1918, with red and white pieces battling on shared ground.
As designers Heini Riitahuhta and Mikko Jarvenpaa want their ideas to address consumers and their choices directly. It is not sustainable development to buy disposable products by the dozen. The designers see an alternative in well-designed products or works of art expressing the users' own values in a positive manner. All the products of the SUSI exhibition have been designed upon the terms of production in small editions and the manufacturers are Finnish. The exhibition is arranged in association with Abloy, Iittala, the Kankaanpaa Institute, Teakoy, Tamglass and DHL. The National Council for Design has provided support for the exhibition.
Heini Riitahuhta works as a ceramic artist and designer at the Arabia factory's Art Department in Helsinki since graduating from the University of Art and Design Helsinki. The Helmi oil lamp designed by her and made by Arabia received an honourable mention at the international Mino Ceramics Competition in Japan in 2002. She is the first chairperson of the Arabia Art Department Association, which was founded in 2003. Heini Riitahuhta has participated in exhibitions in Finland, Japan, China, Switzerland, France and the Nordic countries. I the spring of 2005 she completed her first major installation piece in Denmark. A continuation of this work was later shown in 2006 at Forum Box, a joint exhibition of the Arabia Art Department Association. Her most recent works include the ceramics collection Salaisuus (Secret), which is part of Arabia's 5Kulmaa (5Corners) collection.
Mikko Jarvenpaa is a freelance designer who has worked for the Oribe Design Center of Japan, Artek and designer Harri Koskinen's office among other firms and companies. He was involved in object and concept design for Kemira Grow How in 2004 and 2005, and has also designed for the Harri Koskinen design office and Artek. Jarvenpaa's professional experience includes the design of trade fair departments and exhibition architecture, including the design of Heini Riitahuhta's Versoja (Shoots) exhibition in 2005. In 2004 Jarvenpaa participated in the workshop and competition 'Drawing with Carlo Moretti in collaboration with Elle Décor in Venice'. His works have been on display at the Stockholm Furniture Fair and Design Forum Finland's Young Forum showing in 2004, among other exhibitions. Jarvenpaa has studied design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki and product design at the Hame University of Applied Sciences.
SUSI - Designers Heini Riitahuhta and Mikko Jarvenpaa 22.2.-16.3.2008
Design Forum Finland (Tila2), Erottajankatu 7, Helsinki
Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. , Sun. Noon - 6 p.m.
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