"Alchemy of the Third Millennium" - Artek's 75th Anniversary Symposium

When Artek was founded in 1935, the business idea of the company was "to sell furniture and to promote modern culture of habitation by exhibitions and other means of education." The founders of Artek, Alvar and Aino Aalto, Nils-Gusfav Hahl and Maire Gullichsen, believed in a grand synthesis of the arts and wanted to make a difference in town planning as well as architecture and design. These goals and values are still very much part of Artek today. In the spirit of the far-sighted founders, Artek wants to emphasize the role of cross-disciplinary thinking between science, art, architecture and design. As a statement for the future and for the celebration of its 75th anniversary, Artek organizes an international symposium.

The symposium “Alchemy of the Third Millennium” debates the role of the classical elements – earth, water, air and fire – in contemporary art, architecture and design.

“Alchemy of the Third Millennium” is curated by Professor Juhani Pallasmaa and Esa Laaksonen, director of the Alvar Aalto Academy, and is organized in collaboration with the Aalto University.

Read more:
The symposium “Alchemy of the Third Millennium”
Artek, homepage
Proventus' engagement in Artek