Vattenblänk from Marimekko

 The first time I saw Vattenblänk fabric from Marimekko, I could not believe it was really part of the Marimekko’s collection. On a white background there are shapes of light blue, pink, green and indigo mixed around and on top of each other. It didn’t look at all like the stylish Marimekko patterns I was aware of. And that was the reason I wanted to know more about the fabric.

Vattenblänk is Swedish, meaning the shimmering of water. That has been the designer Astrid Sylwan’s inspiration when creating the pattern. It illustrates the movement of the water, but includes a powerful element and edgy shadows that is also present in the water movements.

The designer is the Belgian born Astrid Sylwan, who currently lives in Sweden. She is a visual artist, whose work is characterized by strong colors and a clear post-painting. Vattenblänk is actually a really typical piece of work from her – all her work produces the similar kind of patterns and reflections. In her interview by Marimekko she tells that she gets inspired by immense art experiences, but tries to find the inspiration for her works from within herself – and relaxes by doing garden work.

But how on Earth did Astrid Sylwan end up collaborating with Marimekko? It was Marimekko’s artistic director, Minna Kemell-Kutvonen, who saw her work in a Swedish interior design magazine and contacted the artist. Astrid Sylwan was interested straight away: in her interview with Marimekko she tells how she lived her childhood surrounded by Marimekko as her mother decorated her room with Marimekko fabrics (namely the Unikko design by Maija Isola).

It was actually challenging to create the shapes and the forms of Vattenbänk. Later the artist has said that putting nine different colors in industrially printed fabric was not an easy task, but in the end she was satisfied.

And now comes the punch line: Astrid Sylwan has said that her Marimekko design is similar to her paintings. Their design is balancing next to breakdown. Her artwork – and this is what she says – are pretty, but they do not try to please or charm. After reading this I respect her as an artist, making a bold movement into industrial design. But still, I do not like the fabric.