Unpolished 12 - Helsinki

The latest, 12th edition of the exhibition will take place at the Design Museum in Helsinki in February 2012 as part of the World Design Capital program – Helsinki 2012, which showcases the most interesting exhibitions of applied arts and design from around the world.

The invitation for the exhibition to the capital of Finland signifies the growing renown and recognition that Polish artistic design enjoys in Europe. In 2011, the exhibition “UNPOLISHED – YOUNG DESIGN FROM POLAND” was presented at many prestigious design festivals, including the Salone del Mobile in Milan, Designer’s Days and Design Week in Paris, Budapest Design Week, Inno Design Tech Expo in Hong Kong, and the Museum of Applied Arts in Cologne.

The Polish design exhibition “UNPOLISHED – YOUNG DESIGN FROM POLAND” is a project whose main idea is to present the most interesting works and achievements of young Polish designers to the widest possible audience. It aims to demonstrate that young Polish design, which draws from rich Polish experiences and traditions, is a distinct phenomenon that is both attractive and worth discovering. The success that the exhibition has achieved at design festivals across Europe proves that Polish design is gaining increasing recognition, and its creators – young designers – are making their mark in international markets due to their talent, imagination, experience, unconventional ideas, and passion.

The Unpolished exhibition seeks a common denominator in Polish design. The exhibition evolves over time; subsequent editions consist of a varying number of objects, with new designers and items joining the showcase. Depending on the venue and context, we, the curators, make different selections,” explains Agnieszka Jacobson Cielecka, the exhibition’s curator. “When choosing works and designers, we look for the most characteristic elements of Polish design, features that distinguish us from other designers. While preparing such exhibitions, we always face the question of what exactly we want to prove. Is it that Poles design like everyone else? Or that they design differently than everyone else? The process of creation and the selection of materials is certainly unique. Designers often opt for available, inexpensive, and natural materials: wood, OSB and MDF boards, felt, or reclaimed materials. They frequently make their objects themselves or with the help of local craftsmen. Most of the works are prototypes, one-of-a-kind items, or limited series.”

In Helsinki, 22 works by 16 designers and design groups will be presented: Aze Design, Betonu, Agnieszka Czop + Joanna Rusin, DBWT, Faworów, Gogo, Kompottu, Bogdan Kosak, Malafor, Karina Marusińska, Bartosz Mucha, Alicja Patanowska, Monika Patuszyńska, Magdalena Trzcionka, and Oskar Zięty. The Finnish audience will see, among others, well-known and multiple award-winning projects by Oskar Zięty, Malafor, Joanna Czop, and Agnieszka Rusin, as well as the latest projects by Karina Marusińska, Alicja Patanowska, and Faworów.

Exhibition Location: DESIGN MUSEUM, Korkeavuorenkatu 23, 00130 Helsinki, Finland

Project Coordinators: Anna Szlązak-Nowak, Marzena Kościółek-Tofil