Line drawings formulated with a skilful lightness of touch, usually consisting of a single sweeping stroke or a few delicate lines, are currently to be seen everywhere in interior design. Numerous painters and graphic artists in the past have succumbed to the fascination of line art. Henri Matisse, for example, was one of the most important artists to master the stylistic use of fluid, arabesque lines. In the latest collections of Ambiente exhibitors, you will find countless inspirations from an array of line drawings that perfectly reflect the current trend towards minimalist art. We are convinced that in the present time of apparent global standstill, line art can show its true potential even more strongly with values of mindfulness, creativity and freedom. Here, we highlight the trend phenomenon of line art with examples of great products from our Ambiente exhibitors.

Following in the steps of Henri Matisse

Hand on heart, who hasn’t become a little fed up with staring at their own four walls over recent months? For many of us, home has quickly turned into a permanent focus of our lives. It therefore comes as no surprise that there is a strong desire to find new visual stimuli for our interior spaces. It is natural that manufacturers and product designers are increasingly being inspired by line art whose contemporary style is equally at home in reduced Nordic interiors as in playful boho chic settings. Accessories can be used to create a relaxed, artistic atmosphere, for example the ceramic vase by Kersten with its face line art on the coffee table or the flower vase made of special waterproof paper by Octaevo, which would certainly look good next to the home office monitor. In the case of the latter, the design created by Spaniard Jaime Hayon is reminiscent of the striking shade of blue that Henri Matisse loved so much ever since his first visit to the Côte d’Azur. He was well aware of its pleasing effect: blue has always been associated with positive human qualities such as sympathy, harmony and friendliness.

Home textiles and wall art – just a few lines are needed to create a complete picture

As another master of modern line art, Bauhaus artist Paul Klee, once stated, a drawing is simply “an active line on a walk, moving freely”. He, too, opened up inexhaustible possibilities in terms of form and design with a lively interplay of overlaps, linear convergences and divergences. We found a similar signature in a variety of products with contemporary line art designs, which we first discovered in well-known international concept stores and that have now found their way into the most diverse ranges of consumer goods. Particularly in demand are printed and embroidered home textiles such as rugs, wall hangings, throws and cushions that look as though they have been painted with a fine brush or calligraphy pen.

Canadian Karla Koziol aka “Madame Wood” has just launched a new line art wall relief in collaboration with Koziol. The designers of the Spanish label Doiy create an almost magical effect with the lines of their round wall mirror: The reflection is “protected” by two gold-coloured hands, elevating the mirror to a symbol of inner balance and well-being. What an original idea!

Jewellery design, inspired by Matisse and Picasso line art

Important artists of Classic Modernism, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, used line art drawings to express their visions. Matisse also became one of the most important pioneers of abstract painting through his maximum reduction of line. Although he was heavily criticised and described as naïve during his lifetime for his simple pictorial motifs, posterity associates his exciting works above all with joie de vivre, lightness and enjoyment, which left no room for the conflicts of everyday life. It is quite possible that the 150th anniversary of his birth, which was celebrated last year with numerous retrospectives, has contributed to the current popularity of line art. It is certainly interesting that influencers worldwide are recommending abstract art for home interiors to their communities and, at the same time, many creative designers are drawing on the work of renowned modern artists for their collections. For instance, Israeli jewellery designer Shlomit Ofir has created beautiful earrings for her label exactly in the shape of the leaf that Henri Matisse often used as a backdrop in his paintings. And Pablo Picasso would certainly recognise his work as the inspiration for the necklace in eye-catching face line design by jewellery manufacturer Ras.

Line drawing for artistic tableware

Line drawing can also provide an array of ideas for tableware. The style is particularly effective when the rest of the table decoration is kept simple, allowing the fluid designs to take centre stage. This served as an inspiration for Korean exhibitor Putta Comma, whose signature is normally characterised by minimalism. Now, even the Koreans are decorating their classic tableware collections with sketchy, filigree motifs. The elegant lines are accentuated by gold elements, which we have also discovered combined with line art in the products of many other manufacturers. Berlin designer Burkhard Neie, for example, tells the great dramas of Greek mythology in curved lines of real gold on wine and water glasses from Ritzenhoff. Together with candlelight and a specially prepared meal, they create the atmosphere of a finedining restaurant within your own four walls.

Line art radiates optimism

The cultivated stylistic elements of line art fit perfectly with our present time. You can discover lots more products beyond the selection shown here in the Ambiente online exhibitor search engine and on Nextrade.Market. Line art opens up narrative worlds that radiate optimism, structure and inner clarity in interior spaces – often together with quotations from recent art history and sometimes infused with bright colours and seemingly wild mixes of lines. Line art has something for everyone – it is diverse, unwaveringly modern and fits into almost any setting. In short, line drawing has arrived in contemporary interior design where individuality, comfort and aesthetics are of key importance.

Title: Jain & Kriz