About this artwork
Trained in Kyoto, Japan, Katsuji Wakisaka was the first non-Finnish designer to work for Marimekko, a Helsinki-based textile company that became known for embracing the cultural exuberance of the 1960s. Katsuji brought an energetic use of color and a playful style to designs featuring a wide range of themes, from Finnish forests to children’s drawings. The ultra-saturated blue, orange, purple, and red hills of his oka (straw) print present a dynamic view of the Finnish countryside while also reflecting the psychedelic color palette used in posters, fashion, and album covers of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Textiles
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Artists
- Katsuji Wakisaka (Designer) , Marimekko Oy (Producer)
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Title
- Oka (Furnishing Fabric)
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Places
- Helsinki (Object made in), Japan (Artist's nationality:), Finland (Object made in)
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Date
- Made 1969
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Medium
- Cotton, plain weave; screen printed
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Inscriptions
- Inscription (repeated on left selvage): KATSUJI WAKISAKA "OKA" ® MARIMEKKO OY SUOMI FINLAND 1969
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Dimensions
- 309.5 × 138.1 cm (121 7/8 × 54 3/8 in.); Warp repeat: H.: 77.7 cm (30 5/8 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Marimekko, Inc.
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Reference Number
- 1980.144
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
