The second part of the Alvar Aalto Art Posters series celebrates the 15th Alvar Aalto Symposium

The posters are reprints of the original posters from the first five Alvar Aalto Symposium events from 1979-1991. The sources of inspiration for the designers have been Aalto’s famous buildings, his iconic design and sketches that have been drawn with his delicate hand. The posters are prints of original posters in the Foundation’s poster collection.

“The symposium posters provide a glimpse into the origins of Alvar Aalto’s thinking and the architectural debate that was inspired by his legacy, and this historical context makes them an interesting collectible entity in their own right. The posters show the currents of graphic design at that time and the visualization of each theme, expressed through the unique artistic vision of different designers,” says Alvar Aalto Foundation CEO Tommi Lindh.

The first Alvar Aalto Symposium was held in 1979 in Jyväskylä, and the event soon developed into an international discussion forum on current themes arising from Aalto’s architectural legacy. The first event focused on Alvar Aalto vs. the Modern Movement, while and the second symposium looked at Classical Tradition and the Modern Movement. In 1985, the subject of Modernity and Popular Culture was discussed, and three years later the topic was Architecture and Cultural Values. The main theme of the fifth Alvar Aalto Symposium was Functionalism - Utopia or the Way Forward? The 15^th Alvar Aalto Symposium in 2021, Future of Industry will focus on the future of industrial architecture, industrial construction and urban planning.

Jyväskylä was the home town to Aalto in his childhood and youth, and he received his basic education there. Through the decades, the internationally renowned architectural triennial has been held in the main building of the University of Jyväskylä (formerly the Teacher Training College (1954-55)), which Aalto designed. This year´s Alvar Aalto Symposium will be held there again on August 12–13, 2021 and can be followed on site in Jyväskylä and also as virtual presentations.

The posters in the Alvar Aalto Art Posters series have been selected from the cream of Alvar Aalto Foundation’s poster collection. The first part of this spectacular series has been dedicated to Finnish and international architectural exhibitions from past decades, while the second part celebrates the international architecture triennial Alvar Aalto Symposium. Alvar Aalto Art Posters form a separate product group in the online Alvar Aalto Shop. By purchasing the poster, you are supporting the activities of Alvar Aalto Foundation and the preservation of Aalto’s architectural heritage for future generations.