What's Happening?
Helsinki-based design studio COMPANY, founded by Korean-born Aamu Song and Finnish designer Johan Olin, is currently showcasing its 'Secret Projects' in an exhibition titled 'COMPANY World Affair' at piknic in Seoul. For two decades, COMPANY has engaged
in collaborations with local artisans across various countries, including Mexico, Japan, Peru, Finland, Korea, Pakistan, the U.S., India, and Russia. The exhibition highlights the studio's process, emphasizing travel and direct engagement with materials, production methods, and local ways of life. Song and Olin initiate these collaborations with hand-drawn sketches created on-site, ensuring a commitment to telling the artisans' stories. The narratives behind each design are considered as important as the objects themselves. The exhibition features diverse items, such as a large-scale installation of approximately 270 Matryoshka dolls, a mural depicting market scenes, and audio narratives of the 'Secret Projects' accessible through telephone booths modeled after their respective countries. The exhibition is on view through September 6, 2026.
Why It's Important?
This exhibition is important as it underscores the value of global artisan collaborations in contemporary design, particularly highlighting the U.S. as one of the countries where COMPANY has worked with craftspeople. It promotes cross-cultural exchange and preserves traditional craftsmanship in an era increasingly dominated by automation and mass production. For the U.S. design community and consumers, it showcases how international partnerships can enrich design by integrating diverse cultural narratives and artisanal techniques. The 'Secret Projects' approach emphasizes the human element in creation, providing a counter-narrative to the efficiency-driven modern world. This focus on storytelling and the journey behind each object can inspire U.S. designers and consumers to appreciate the cultural and social decisions inherent in handmade goods. It also demonstrates a model for sustainable and ethical design practices that prioritize local communities and their unique skills, potentially influencing similar initiatives within the U.S. design industry.
What's Next?
The 'COMPANY World Affair' exhibition will continue to be on view at piknic in Seoul until September 6, 2026. Following the exhibition, the studio may explore new 'Secret Projects' with artisans globally, potentially expanding their reach or deepening existing collaborations, including those in the U.S. The exposure gained from this exhibition could lead to increased interest in COMPANY's work and its collaborative model, potentially inspiring other design studios to adopt similar approaches. There might be opportunities for the exhibition to travel to other international venues, including the U.S., allowing a broader audience to experience these unique artisan collaborations. The narratives and insights gathered from these projects could also be documented and shared through publications or educational initiatives, further promoting the value of traditional craftsmanship and cross-cultural design. The success of this exhibition could also influence funding and support for artisan communities worldwide.
Beyond the Headlines
Beyond the immediate display of design objects, 'COMPANY World Affair' delves into deeper implications regarding cultural preservation and the human connection to craft. In an age of artificial intelligence and automation, the exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of the irreplaceable value of human touch, skill, and storytelling in creation. It highlights the ethical dimension of design, where collaboration with local artisans can empower communities and sustain traditional practices that might otherwise be lost. The exhibition implicitly critiques the 'pathological need for efficiency' by celebrating the time-intensive and culturally rich processes of handmade goods. This approach fosters a greater appreciation for the provenance of objects and the hands that create them, encouraging consumers to consider the social and cultural impact of their purchases. It also suggests a long-term shift in design philosophy, moving towards more meaningful, narrative-driven, and ethically conscious production methods.
