Arne Jacobson Centenary

Arne Jacobson Centenary (of his birth) Evergreens and Nevergreens created by Danish Design Centre in Copenhagen.

In Scotland we’re used to being compared to Denmark. We share many characteristics, including having populations of just over 5 million people and we enjoy similar, northenly locations.

We also have in common, a rich, world-class heritage in design and architecture, which may be a result of our geography. Our rather voyeuristic positions might be said to give creative people the space and distance to be truly original; to benefit from being close to the bulk of Europe, but not overwhelmed by its gravitational pull. I believe that this gives rise to work that is distinctive and extraordinarily rich.

Evergreens and Nevergreens is a special exhibition about the work of this very special Danish man.

Arne Jacobson had extraordinary abilty to work across traditional specialisms rather than confine himself to any one. He disdained being called a designer as he felt that the word failed to describe all that he did. He was born one hundred years ago, the year Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed the Willow Tearooms for Mrs Cranston. Like Mackintosh, Arne Jacobson was comfortable designing a spectrum of objects ranging from buildings to teaspoons and taps, and many of his artifacts share the same monumental purety, beauty and attention to detail.

Jacobson was also an accomplished watercolourist and botanist but unlike Mackintosh, he trancended a craft approach to his work and embraced the manufacturing industries. He did this without losing any of the soft, satisfying perfection, that has become the hallmark of his work. Perhaps it’s just this undefinable quality that ensures his work endures, becoming an icon for other cultures and new generations—it was on his chair that Christine Keeler sat, Jacobson was an icon for the modern era, and his work simply gets better with age.

On behalf of The Lighthouse I welcome you all here tonight. We are absolutely thrilled to host this wonderful exhibition, created by the Danish Design Centre in Copenhagen, during Arne Jacobson’s centenary year. I would like to thank everyone who helped to make this possible.

Before I introduce this evening’s speakers I’d like to ask you to be careful not to trip on the floor tiles and to be careful with your drinks.

I would now like to introduce Kim Casparen, Director of the Danish Cultural Institute in Edinburgh to say a few words, followed by Poul Kristensen, Managing Director and Head of Marketing for Bo Concept—Poul has kindly sponsored this evening’s reception. Bo Concept are a Danish Furniture company and they are about to open their first Glasgow store in Princess Square, so please go along and buy some treasures for your home.

1868-1928