Mimmi Potter

HOME / EDITORIALS / MIMMI POTTER

Despite having a year left in school, Mimmi Blomqvist has already become a designer worth knowing. With her distinct sculptures, this Swedish girl with Finnish roots has in short time turned into a favorite artist at the Berg & Berg office. An early Sunday morning, we sneaked up to Konstfack to see her in action working on some of her latest projects.

Who is Mimmi Blomqvist?

"I’m a 27 year old designer and interior enthusiast and currently studying at Konstfack where I do my master degree in Ceramics and Glass. I find it hard to call myself a designer, I’m also an artist but that signification doesn’t sound nice to me either. I want to be something in between."

We are big fans of your sculpture named Fungo. How did you come up with the design? What’s the story behind it?

"My sculpture Fungo was the beginning of a new phase in my career. A rough year in my life had passed and I felt uninspired and bored by everything I had produced. I didn’t feel a strong connection between me and my work so I needed to start over all again."

"I cleaned up everything in the workshop, stored my sketches and got rid of all of my clothes and interior from my earlier life. I started to research Finnish design since my grandmother was from Helsinki. I studied forms from the 50s, 60s and 70s, mostly furniture and utility items in glass and porcelain.

Fungo was the first piece of my series of sculptures with a function and also the beginning of a new concept of design that I have been working on for almost two years. A small little porcelain mushroom to be used as a bowl to put your jewelries or other tiny treasures in. The idea of a sculpture with a function felt like a suitable concept for me to work with."

It started as a porcelain sculpture and lately you’ve done it both in wood and glass. What’s next?

"I love those materials and don’t think I ever will stop working with either of them. Now I’m looking at making something where wood and glass can be combined into one piece. I also want to add textiles, I believe that the softness would look good together with the other dense and sharp materials."

Where do you find your inspiration in life and has it been more difficult to source influences in the last year than before?

"Fashion. This always surprises people because apparently, my work has little to do with textiles. But it has always been an important source for me. I haven’t felt a lack of inspiration but now when a whole year has passed, I do feel tired of exclusively digital influences. I miss being out in the city surrounded by people, Saturday window shopping for expensive interior, porcelain at restaurants and of course, exhibitions."

What’s coming up next? Any fun projects or collaborations in pipeline?

"This is the hard part of my work since I’m not able to talk about most of the projects I'm working on at the moment. It feels weird because we all know it’s not a moon landing I’m keeping secret, but let’s just say that 2021 will be a pretty good looking year in the interior business."

Do you have any dream projects? Something you strive to do in future?

"My ambition with everything I make is to create an environment that makes me feel safe and calm. To be surrounded by objects I love and value helps me create that sort of feeling, even if it’s only a tiny little bowl. My dream is to start a design company. I want a small team with designers, architects, engineers and other creative spirits. Hopefully this dream will come true someday, but until then, I’m thrilled to release projects that I’ve been working on for a while in partnership with other companies."

PREVIOUS STORY Fabric Guide: Selvedge Denim

Swedish Fika NEXT STORY

Mimmi Potter

Be the first to know