India Mahdavi interprets Josef Frank legacy at Svenskt Tenn

A room with very colorful walls and furniture — Installation view, ‘Frankly Yours’, at Svenskt Tenn, Strandvägen 5, Stockholm

(Image credit: Courtesy Svenskt Tenn)

During Stockholm Design Week 2022, designer India Mahdavi staged a takeover of Svenskt Tenn’s Stockholm gallery space. Located on the ground floor of the Strandvägen 5 store, the exhibition is titled ‘Frankly Yours’ and sees the Parisian designer experimenting with the legacy of the brand, using iconic prints and objects, as well as new pewter pieces designed for the occasion.

India Madhavi Svenskt Tenn exhibition during Stockholm Design Week 2022, with Josef Frank's Vegetable Tree print wallpaper on wall — ‘Marble’ vases, SEK16,000 (€1,499) each, by India Mahdavi

The starting point for the space is Frank’s ‘Vegetable Tree’ print, a multicoloured composition of fruits and flowers on white textile cladding the room’s walls in their entirety. ‘The “Vegetable Tree” print brings us back to the root of life: nature in its purest form,’ comments Mahdavi.

‘I love the fact that vegetables grow on a tree here: it gives this fabric a poetic dimension. In the exhibition, I have put the “Vegetable Tree” all over the walls and the furniture. This allows us to perceive it in a different way and to highlight its beauty.’

Patterned sofa with colourful cushions, part of India Mahdavi Svenskt Tenn exhibition during Stockholm Design Week 2022 — ‘Cap Martin’ sofa, SEK135,000 (€12,649); ’Round Bonbon’ cushions, SEK2,500 (€234) each, all by India Mahdavi

Upon entering the room, visitors are immersed in a world of colour: as well as adorning the walls, the bold hues of the Josef Frank prints grace furniture and lighting pieces. Mahdavi injected the interior with still more energising colour, from the velvety purple carpet to the expressive pillows on the sofas.

‘Colours are the consequence of my memory, of my heritage: my Iranian and Egyptian origins, growing up in the United States in the 1960s and living in the south of France,’ says Mahdavi. ‘It is a language that I have come to use fluently. As I see it, colours have conversations. They argue and reconcile.’

Two poufs by Josef Frank in Vegetable Tree print fabric for India Mahdavi Svenskt Tenn exhibition during Stockholm Design Week 2022 — Josef Frank’s ‘530’ stools, SEK13,000 (€1,218) each

For the exhibition, she has also designed a floor lamp based on Josef Frank’s ‘2326’ model, and new pieces in pewter (a material that is at the heart of Svenskt Tenn’s legacy).

The pewter trays, Mahdavi explains, are a tribute to Svenskt Tenn’s founder, Estrid Ericson. ‘At the age of 30, back in 1924, she was already such an example for women: a strong and independent entrepreneur,’ says Mahdavi. ‘The whole project honours the history, the origins and the work made by Svenskt Tenn, Estrid Ericson and Josef Frank.’

Close-up of orange chair upholstered with Vegetable Tree printed fabric by Josef Frank, for India Mahdavi Svenskt Tenn exhibition — Josef Frank’s ‘P4’ armchair in India Mahdavi’s orange hue, SEK12,000 (€1,124), excluding ‘Vegetable Tree’ cushions; ‘Serpent’ cushion, SEK2,600 (€244), by India Mahdavi

Sofa upholstered in Josef Frank Vegetable Tree print fabric with colourful cushions — ‘Jelly Pea’ sofa, SEK210,000 (€19,676); ’Round Bonbon’ cushions, SEK2,500 (€234) each, all by India Mahdavi

Orange chair — Josef Frank’s ‘P5’ chair in India Mahdavi’s orange, SEK8,800 (€825)

Fruit on pewter and patterned trays — ‘Peanut’ plate, SEK19,000 (€1,780), by India Mahdavi. ‘Vegetable Tree’ tray, SEK660 (€62), by Josef Frank/Svenskt Tenn

INFORMATION

‘Frankly Yours’ is at Svenkst Tenn, Strandvägen 5, Stockholm, until 23 October 2022. All pieces available from Svenskt Tenn

svenskttenn.com

india-mahdavi.com

TOPICS

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.