In GJF, an exhibition titled "Take Nord Shape" is being prepared

Samuli Naamanka, Dagur Eggertsson and Sami Rintala

March 5–28, 2010
Galerie Jaroslava Fragnera
Betlémské náměstí 5a, Prague

Vernissage on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at 6:00 PM.
Scandinavia, with its technology, design, and architecture, is among the most progressive countries and cultures in Europe. The roots of this northern exceptionalism can be traced in history or in the uniqueness of the natural and climatic conditions. These form one of the common Scandinavian characteristics, which is certainly most visible in architecture and design. The exhibition Take Nord Shape presents individually defined expressions from three creators who confirm this general characteristic.
Architects and designers Samuli Naamanka, Dagur Eggertsson, and Sami Rintala are prominent and respected figures on the international scene. Although they share several circumstances—such as their country of origin—Finland or their year of birth—they have not yet had the opportunity to meet and work on an exhibition project that would present their work so far and at the same time be a space for mutual combination of creative views and ideas. The exhibition thus provides a unique opportunity for the Czech audience to experience the Nordic vision of architecture, design, and public space.

---

Sami Rintala (1969) completed his studies in architecture in Helsinki in 1999, and in 1998 founded the architectural studio Casagrande & Rintala, which was the birthplace of many highly acclaimed projects between 1998 and 2003. Rintala and Casagrande created several critically recognized architectural installations worldwide, often in connection with art exhibitions and workshops. Their work combines architecture with a critical view of society, nature, and the essence of an architect's work, while their practice is based on crossings between styles and uses space, light, various materials, and the human body as expressive means. In 2008, Rintala established a new studio alongside Icelandic architect Dagur Eggertsson, with branches in Oslo, southern Norway, and northern Norway in Bodø. Rintala's work is based on narrativity and conceptualism. The resulting artwork is a multi-layered interpretation of physical, psychological, and poetic influences in a given space. A significant role in Sami Rintala's work is played by his teaching activities at art schools. His teaching usually takes the form of workshops, during which students participate in creating spaces according to assignments in a realistic scale of 1:1. Currently, he is a professor at AHO Arkitekthogskolen in Oslo and NTNU Trondheim.

Dagur Eggertsson (1965) gained professional experience in many leading studios in Oslo. After receiving his degree from the Oslo School of Architecture in 1992, he began collaborating with architect Vibeke Jenssen under the name of NOIS Architects. In 1996, he completed his postgraduate studies at the Helsinki University of Technology, where he also began experimenting with constructing large-scale architectural objects. In parallel with his professional work, Eggertsson teaches architecture in Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. Currently, he serves as a leader and evaluator of projects at the School of Architecture and Design in Oslo.

Samuli Naamanka (1969) is known as a versatile designer whose work combines a carefully chosen formal vocabulary with creative technological innovations. He studied graphic design in Rovaniemi and furniture and interior design at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, graduating as an interior architect in 2000. Besides product and interior design, Naamanka is also involved in environmental design. Among other things, he is a pioneer in the development of concrete products. From this work, several patents have emerged in the field of graphic pattern technology in concrete and its coloring in various shades. The exhibition Take Nord Shape presents a wide range of Naamanka's work. Among the exhibits is the award-winning Clash chair, whose stylish seat is shaped from molded wood. The exhibition includes photographic documentation of architectural solutions of Samuli Naamanka's exhibitions, his environmental work, and artistic works in public space. His work contains references to the history, nature, and architecture of the places where they are located, as well as their symbolism. Samuli Naamanka received a building award in 2004 from the Finnish foundation Julkisivuyhdistys for development in the field of graphic processing of concrete and in 2005 he received the SIO award as furniture designer of the year. His most recent award is the Nordiska Design Prize from 2008.