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‘Maarten Baas: Hide and seek’, that will soon be on display at the Finland based Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva, is an attempt to lay bare the illustrious creations of renowned Dutch designer Maarten Baas, who, in his words, is “always seeking new things” but is “also hiding by playing different roles”. The art exhibition, scheduled to go on display from 29 April to 18 September 2022, will set this spectacle in motion. Reflecting upon his artistic approach the designer says, “Throughout my career, I have used different ways of expressing myself. Sometimes I am very flamboyant and outgoing. And on the other hand, I can be very introverted.” The immersive exhibition will offer an insightful view into the designer’s career through some of his classic works and new video installations. The exhibition accommodates the renowned Smoke series , for which Baas charred classic designs, such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin floor lamp.
The show was first produced by Groninger Museum from The Netherlands, and it is the first major solo exhibition to laud and honour the intellectual, rebellious and theatrical expression of Baas.
“We’re thrilled to bring Maarten Baas’ incredible works to Lahti and to Finland. This international star hasn’t had a solo exhibition in Finland before this, and Malva is proud to offer a chance to see these arresting works that have excited crowds and collectors all around the world,” says Paula Korte, curator of Malva.
Maarten Baas is one of the most prominent designers of the early 21st century, his work straddling the boundaries of art and design. From the very start of his journey, he has challenged traditions and broke norms of design in unpredictable ways. For his graduation show at Design Academy Eindhoven in 2002, for instance, he developed Smoke furniture which involved morphing wooden objects into something captivating by burning them. He was enamoured by how wear, damage and charring could give a piece of furniture a completely new character.
Baas is also recognised worldwide for his series ‘Clay’ and ‘Real Time’, which will both be unveiled in Malva. ‘Clay’ displays a raw and idiosyncratic approach to design where “The initial idea was to make furniture with the same naivety, or clumsiness, as a child’s drawing,” shares Baas. The series is spontaneous and vulnerable; contradicting and critiquing traditional design approaches that allow production or commercialisation to overshadow the spontaneity of art. With ‘Real Time’, Baas manifests his theatrical expression in a series of new clock designs. The 12-hour films of performances indicating the time, beautifully amalgamate theatre, art, film and design.
His range of work lucidly depicts his capricious artistic expression and his unwillingness to be categorised. His artistic compositions vacillate between being playful and intellectual and with each one of his works, he continues his unremitting rebellion.
‘Hide and Seek’ is one of Malva’s three opening shows. Moreover, Malva also presents Roots – Treasures from the Collections, as well as the world-famous graphic design competition and exhibition the Lahti International Poster Triennial. As the Malva’s exhibition programme for 2022 forges ahead, it will be adorned with three stellar solo exhibitions by Marjatta Tapiola, Nanna Susi and Erik Bruun in the autumn season.
The exhibition ‘Hide and Seek’ will remain on display from April 29, 2022 to September 18, 2022 at the Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva in Lahti, Finland.
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