Wanja Djanaieff

”Almost all colours make me happy!” Bubblegum pink, rapeseed yellow, Mediterranean turquoise, grass green, barn red, sky blue… In Wanja Djanaieff’s expressive and playful world of patterns the colours are plentiful, contrasting and strong. She has an almost absolute pitch when it comes to colour combinations and shows no sign of the chromophobia that in periods has characterised Nordic design.

Djanaieff (b. 1941) is one of Sweden’s most influential textile designers. Her inexhaustible creativity has generated a career stretching over six decades. She has worked as a clothes designer, textile artist, professor and scenographer, and already at the age of 29 became the head of design at the department store NK. Her public breakthrough came when she designed the clothes for the Swedish Olympic Team in Munich 1972.

This exhibition is Djanaieff’s own story about the versatile life of an artist. Clothes as well as art are displayed, but also an extensive selection of the hundreds of patterns she has designed, often in the monumental, two-dimensional and graphic style that has become her signature. We are also invited into Djanaieff’s sketchpad, and to follow her creative process through a film directed by her son.

Parallel to her work as a designer, Djanaieff is driven by a tireless interest in textile craft and folk art. She has also engaged in developing the use of natural materials such as wool, leather and linen. She wants to make the whole chain of production visible and has in connection with this exhibition designed a patch for growing flax in the Vandalorum courtyard.

The exhibition is produced by Marabouparken konsthall with adjustments by Vandalorum in collaboration with Wanja Djanaieff.

Thanks to: Bengt Julin’s Foundation, Jehréns Färg, Alcro, Swedish Arts Council, Region Jönköping County, Värnamo Municipality and Vandalorum Partners: Hamrin, Liljedahl and Svenstig

^{Photo: Patrik Lindell}