Artist Spotlight: Elizabeth Salonen (Mottoform)
I met Elizabeth Salonen of Mottoform, the way I seem to meet anyone in the design or creative world...online. The more I dug into her work the more impress I became, she's a product, textile / surface, homewares and furniture designer. And so damn talented!
You have to check out her amazing wallpaper line as well, she's doing a lot of really cool things, all of which are clearly driven by a real passion for what she does.
Let's get to know Elizabeth Salonen...
Tell me a bit about your journey, were you always an artist?
I grew up in a family of makers and surrounded by design. My father is Finnish and we grew up with Finnish design classics in our home. My mother is a really talented graphic designer, and when I was growing up she was studying at Cranbrook Academy of Art (designed by
). I spent a lot of time on campus and we went to design lectures and openings together. When I found out about product design, I knew it was for me, I wanted to touch and feel the things I designed. After graduating in Industrial Design from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, I worked in colour and material design for a few years at Ford Motor Company. I took this time to really explore the limits for what can be done creatively in a corporate environment with show cars – for example, we had hand-printed quirky stencil graffiti messages all over the car, and I reworked conventional materials with suppliers to take on a different identity.
I've always known I wanted to be be an entrepreneur and work independently so in 2005 I moved to Helsinki, Finland and established a design studio, Mottoform, where I worked on a variety of projects from sports watches, to lighting, to textiles, to wallpaper, furniture and housewares. I was honoured to receive Industrial Designer of the Year award in Finland in 2012. Throughout my career I've always put a strong emphasis on materials, and enjoyed exploring new processes and techniques. I also inherited a strong graphic sense (probably from my mother), that found its way into my work, into prints, patterns and textures. At first my textile prints were more illustrative. Gradually I wanted to get away from the computer and started making prints from paper cutouts, by painting, and with hand-made patterns. You could say I began working in a more artistic way. And this January I launched my first art series at the Interior Design Show in Toronto titled “Discarded,” a series of bas-relief sculptures cast by hand from discarded plastic packaging.
As designers we see an evolution in our style and aesthetic, I assume the same holds true for artists. What was your evolution like? How has it evolved?
It's a constant evolution! I really like to tie in handmade subtleties or imperfections even into mass-produced objects. I think a lot of that theme has been pretty consistent in my work. Perhaps my colour palette has changed and is more subtle at the moment. And keeping design elements paired down to the essence. Right now I'm loving texture.
I care less about trends, and am more interested in longevity and designing art or products that survive and last through time.
What is the message behind your art? What do you want people to take away or feel through your pieces?
I'm happy if people feel curiosity, if my work helps them see beauty in everyday places, if it makes them smile, or triggers a memory, or an environmental call for action. I'm new to the art world. With the “Discarded” series, I question the narrative of disposable packaging as end-of-life waste. I want to open up a dialog on over-consumption. The fact that packaging accounts for 40% of all plastic produced, used once and then discarded is just a stunning number. But I also want to show beauty in everyday places you might not notice. For example, we may not think of plastic packaging as beautiful, but after the packaging is used as moulds the cast shapes are visually really interesting. By changing the material and colour (to white plaster) you can really see the beauty in these everyday shapes. Then arranged in a graphic composition they take on a rhythmic feeling. Some people look at them and see the familiar shapes, and others wonder about what some of the other products have been, bringing a sense of curiosity. That’s fun!
Did you ever have insecurities with sharing your work? If so how did you get over that?
Sure, I fight against perfectionism so I'm always working to get over that. You create from the heart but also want to make clients happy, and sometimes you need to make sacrifices – it can be a colour you're not really feeling, or the manufacturing quality is not where you'd like it to be, etc. We are our strongest critics and we can see all the flaws so it’s easy for me to assume everyone else can see them too. But I don't think that's usually the case. I just need to remind myself not to take things so seriously and that every project is a learning experience and to just have fun with it and accept the outcome!
Sometimes I come across a quote that speaks to my core so intensely I have to share it with others. Do you have a favourite quote that has touched you or pushed you in some way?
Today I'm feeling this one by Albert Einstein,
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Nature is always a big source of inspiration for me, and also a place to reconnect, become grounded and refocus on what I want to achieve or what is important to me.
What's been the toughest part about turning your passion/art into a business?
Oh my goodness, it's so easy to be passionate and dedicated to my work. I never have a hard time staying motivated. The toughest part is all the marketing and selling that needs to go along with it. I'd rather just create. And social media – it's a love / hate thing.
Who are your favourite artists or influences and why?
Coming from a family of artist / designer / makers has had a huge influence on me. I've already mentioned my mother, but my grandfather made beautiful modern furniture, and my grandmother had wonderful culinary skills, and also tailored all her own clothing, and the list goes on. I really appreciate craft and attention to detail.
Living in Helsinki also had a really big influence on my design aesthetic and was a constant source of inspiration. My studio was in the design district – surrounded by gorgeous Jugendstil architecture – and a few minutes walk to the sea. The surrounding architecture inspired me to create my collection “
,” a collection of hand-printed vintage textiles inspired by relief details in the Art Nouveau architecture. And the outdoor flea markets, and all the contrasts. The light in summertime and the darkness in winter. Hot saunas and ice swimming. And Finnish culture in general – because Finns have grown up with beautifully designed items in their homes – such as dishware by
or furniture by
. Even the cafaterias are beautifully designed. As a result – everyone, not just designers, have an understanding of form and proportion and quality. It's just amazing.
Five favourite things right now?
coffee
my kids
sunshine
being healthy
creating
Any other nuggets you'd like to share?
Thank you so much for including me in the artist spotlight! I'm excited everyday I get to create and looking forward to more collaborations in the future. It's the people, and genuine connections with them, that make projects / work rewarding and successful. Hopefully working more in interior spaces and doing some custom commissions!
Represented by
Wallpaper
