Anna VIHMA

• TOP >
• Archives >
• Residency Program >
• Anna VIHMA

Anna VIHMA

Participating Project	Research Residency Program
Activity Based	Finland
City	Tokyo
Period	2019.6 - 2019.7

Purpose of the residency

In 1955, the Finnish designer Kaj Franck received the renowned Lunning award, which allowed him to travel to Japan. This visit had an indelible impact on his practice. Franck recorded the trip in his travel diary, in maps, and in photographs - my research for the exhibition project uses this material as its point of departure.
My objective for the residency period is to follow Kaj Franck’s and other designer’s paths. I will use the time in Tokyo to conduct research on travel as a concept, and on the local designers, techniques and traditions that have influenced Nordic designers’ practices to such great extent.   

Plan during the residency

・research on the concept of travel 
・research on Kaj Franck’s travels and contacts in Japan
・research on the ways Nordic and Japanese design have influenced each other
・forming networks and collaborating partnerships for the exhibition project

Activities during the residency

I used my six weeks at the TOKAS residency to step into the shoes of the numerous Nordic designers, who have during the past decades traveled to Japan. The reasons for their travels have varied: they have traveled for collaborative projects or in search of Japanese craftsmanship, local materials and techniques, or simply for inspiration. I built my program for the residency period by the guidelines of these histories, acquainting myself with local craftsmen and their work, locations and sources of inspiration the designers might have included in their travels, as well as specific sites related to Nordic design history. In addition to this, I utilized the isolation of the residency to focus on my research - on reading, writing and thinking.

Overview of the residency

The outcomes of my residency were partly according to my plans and partly brought on by coincidence and serendipity. I met local curators and design experts, conducted interviews and fostered existing contacts as well as built new ones. I started negotiations on possible partnerships. Regarding the content of the project, the time spent in the residency allowed me to dig deeper into the subject matter and start forming the structure and different categories of the exhibition. But of course, six weeks is not a long time, so inevitably there were new ideas and contacts appearing at a moment too late to react to during my stay. So, I do wish I’d had more time – but it might be that this is always the case.

Creator Information