This summer Liljevalchs tells the story of IKEA.

At a first glance, you might wonder how the product of a established company with a final consumer porpuse can delved into art or well, where is the divisor line between marketing event and an art exhibition. What the museum, directed by Mårten Castenfors, and exhibition curator Staffan Bengtsson wish to relate is a story about IKEA – the phenomenon, its innovations and designers – a story about the birth of the Folkhemmet. A generous presentation of the company that has furnished Sweden after the Second World War.

During the whole exhibition is an extensive programme of seminars attached to discuss issues such as original/copy, aesthetic guidelines, and aspects of the environment and production.

The exhibition also works out as a recreation of memories of various stages within the average Swedish life. The story of Ingvar Kamprad is a fairy-tale of how a boy from the countryside of Sweden (Småland) became one of the richest men in the world. Älmtaryd is his hometown and the world is witness of this successful lifestyle à la Älmtaryd.

© IKEA

Liljevalchs’ pleasurable plunge into the subject takes the form of a reflection of the development of modern society – from the emergence of the Swedish Folkhemmet to our time and to the globalized future. The exhibition provides a sky-high recognition factor as well as surprising gems from IKEA’s production.