The Alvar Aalto Museum’s summer exhibition “Let’s blow them away!”. Alvar Aalto through the camera lens brings forth an unprecedented selection of architectural photographs from the Alvar Aalto Museum archive. Through photography, the exhibition offers a new perspective on the life and work of one of modern architecture’s leading figures.

The pictures convey how photographers of various eras have seen Aalto’s buildings and approached his persona through the camera lens. From early on, Aalto understood the importance of photography as an expressive means of marketing his architecture. Featured in the exhibition are architectural images that Aalto commissioned from the top photographers of his day.

Photographic art was held in high regard in Aalto’s family. The Aaltos’ circle of friends included well-known photographers such as Hungary’s Lazlo Moholy-Nagy and Finland’s Eino Mäkinen. The Aaltos’ interest in modernist photography was also reflected in their own family album, where the family’s children, colleagues from their architectural office, current construction projects and newly completed architectural sites were all captured in photos taken with experimental angles.

Also on display are the architect’s travel pictures, usually taken by one his architect wives, Aino Aalto or Elissa Aalto. In some cases, interesting urban views or building materials and details appear in pictures – and then later adapted as themes in Aalto’s architectural drawings and reinterpreted in the form of modern architecture.

The exhibition of images from the Alvar Aalto Museum photo archive is curated by art historian Asko Mäkelä. Visual design is by the managing director of the Alvar Aalto Foundation, architect Tommi Lindh, and graphic designer Tiina Ekosaari. The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Koskisen Group.

The exhibition’s opening event at the museum’s Gallery begins at 6 pm on Thursday 16 May 2019.

Photo: Alvar Aalto and Villa Stein, designed by Le Corbusier, France. Photographer Aino Aalto, 1928. 

Further information:
Curator Mari Murtoniemi
Tel. +358 40 355 9162
mari.murtoniemi@alvaraalto.fi

Art Historian Asko Mäkelä
Tel. +358 50 484 8363
asko.j.makela@gmail.com

“Let’s blow them away!”. Alvar Aalto through the camera lens
At the Gallery of the Alvar Aalto Museum 17 May–15 September 2019
Alvar Aallon katu 7, 40600 Jyväskylä, Finland
www.alvaraalto.fi