Maire Gullichsen (1907–1990) was the co-founder of the Artek furniture company and an esteemed art collector and patron. Beauty for the Everyday – Maire Gullichsen 100 Years (Kauneutta arkeen – Maire Gullichsen 100 years) is a limited-edition publication for the centenary exhibition of Gullichsen’s lifework commissioned by Artek in 2007.
The richly illustrated booklet has been edited by architect Kirsi Gullichsen, and it contains a comprehensive essay by Helena Woirhaye, art historian. She summarises the impact of Maire Gullichsen’s lifework as the unfaltering promoter of Finnish art, design and architecture. Woirhaye identifies four cornerstones in Gullichsen’s design thinking: the synthesis of the arts, modernist aesthetics, ethics and the social dimension of design, and international communality. Woirhaye’s essay also covers the founding years of Artek and the influential Galerie Artek in creating international contacts between artists, designers and architects.
The pearl of the booklet is Maire Gullichsen’s text titled “Where did we lose our design?” originally published in the Hufvustadsbladet journal in November 1977.
What has happened to Finnish design? Is there any such thing today? … Has Finnish industry lost faith in its own products or is it not interested in selling them? Does it only believe, as it used to, in the travelling salesmen and their annual demand of ‘novelties’ in its sales campaigns?
Maire Gullichsen in her text “Where did we lose our design”, p. 50.
The copy for sale is in excellent condition. The paper wrap has been torn, but otherwise, the booklet is as good as new.