Upholstery for the Gustav chair
Åke Axelsson, crafted by Handarbetets Vänner

Although Sweden’s economy is based on highly sophisticated manufacturing techniques, old-fashioned craftsmanship still survives. One example is at Handarbetets Vänner, where handmade fabrics and tapestries are made on commission to satisfy the most exclusive clients. Marie-Louise Sjöblom, the firm's director, gave me a two-hour tour throughout the four-story facility, giving me a chance to observe how the yarns are dyed and then later converted into exquisite, practical works of art. Some of them take about two years to complete, although the fabrics selected for this exhibition may have taken less time. The visual sophistication of the Swedish people plus the interest of the government that result in a sizeable number of commissions—including fabrics for the Royal Palace—make it possible for this kind of quixotic enterprise to survive.

—Félix Angel, Curator, IDB Cultural Center