Secrets of Russia

SECRETS OF RUSSIA collection (est. 2012)

A collection with the Great, Grand Russian Masters.
In 2011 Aamu Song and Johan Olin set on a journey to explore Russian manufacturing secrets. The travels, which took us from Moscow to Urals, into Siberia and to the Caucasus, resulted in collaboration with tens of traditional manufacturers.
All designs: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)

Our first travels in Russia resulted in collaboration with six traditional manufacturers. After visiting each factory, and getting to know their manufacturing secrets, we designed new products based on their tradition. A collection of new traditional items ’Secrets of Russia’ was born. The project will be exhibited in KIASMA (Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki) in ’Camouflage’ exhibitionon 15.06.–07.10.2012. All designs: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)

Our first travels in Russia resulted in collaboration with six traditional manufacturers. After visiting each factory, and getting to know their manufacturing secrets, we designed new products based on their tradition. A collection of new traditional items ’Secrets of Russia’ was born.

The project will be exhibited in KIASMA (Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki) in ’Camouflage’ exhibitionon 15.06.–07.10.2012.
All designs: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)

The entrance into the Secrets of Russia.

Entering Secrets of Russia.

Inside Secrets of Russia is a magazin (kiosk). The magazin will open once a week.

SECRETS OF RUSSIA PRODUCTS:

Girl & Boy Stools
A sittable matryoshka with storage space inside.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, painted.

Matryoshka Stool
Many Matryoshkas makes a stool.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Hohloma, Russia by
Svetlana Anisova, Master Tatyana, et. al.
Material: linden, painted.

Strawberry Stool
Many berries makes a stool.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Hohloma, Russia by
Svetlana Anisova, Master Tatyana, et. al.
Material: linden, painted.

Holy Light
A pendant lamp with perforated pattern.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Hohloma, Russia by
Svetlana Anisova, Master Tatyana, et. al.
Material: Linden, natural, light bulb.

Head Bag / Sumka Tetya
A bag for treasures.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Master Galina.
Material: Linden, leather.

Akorn Bag / Sumka Orekh
A bag for delicious things.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Master Galina.
Material: Linden, leather.

Apple Bag / Sumka Yabloko
A bag for energy.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Master Galina.
Material: Linden, leather.

Mushroom Bag / Sumka Grib
A bag for secrets.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Master Galina.
Material: Linden, leather.

Four Season Barbie
A doll with clothing for four seasons.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Master Galina.
Material: Linden, painted.

Million Roses / Million Alikh Ros
A bud blossoms into a bouquet of roses.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Master Galina.
Material: Linden, painted.

Summer set
A tea set for summery tea times in good company.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Verbilkie, Russia by
Elena Nalivina, Marina Badalova, et. al.
Material: porcelain, painted.

Winter set
A tea set for hot drinks in good company.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Verbilkie, Russia by
Elena Nalivina, Marina Badalova, et. al.
Material: porcelain, painted.

Babushka/Deduska cup
A two-faced cup for grandma & grandpa.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Verbilkie, Russia by
Elena Nalivina, Marina Badalova, et. al.
Material: porcelain, painted.

Tray Bag
Traditional Zhostovo trays join together to become a handbag.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Zhostovo, Russia by
Tatiana Kurakina, Dan Ion, et. al.
Material: Steel, paint, leather.

Zhostovo Bag
A bag full of flowers.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Zhostovo, Russia by
Tatiana Kurakina.
Material: Steel, paint, leather.

Bear Boots
Felt boots (Valenki) for Russian winter.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Kalyazin, Russia by
Tamara Zakharova, Irina Kushezova, et. al.
Material: Felt, leather.

Polar Bear Boots
Felt boots (Valenki) for the Siberian winter..
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Kalyazin, Russia by
Tamara Zakharova, Irina Kushezova, et. al.
Material: Felt, leather, rubber..

Matryoshka Valenki
Felt boots (Valenki) for happy winter walks.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Kalyazin, Russia by
Tamara Zakharova, Irina Kushezova, et. al.
Material: Felt, leather, rubber (TR) sole.

The Great Mushroom / Bolshoi Grib
Russian and Finnish manufacturing traditions meet under The Great Mushroom.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Mäntyharju, Finland by Vilho, Tenho and Jorma.
And in Bogorodskoe, Russia by Anna Muravjeva, et. al.
Material: Finnish birch, Russian linden.

iBear / iMisha
A traditional toy for modern times.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Bogorodskoe, Russia by Anna Muravjeva.
Material: linden, natural.

Cheers Bear / Na Zdorovya Medvedi
A bear that cheers you up.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Bogorodskoe, Russia
by Andrei Lunev, Anna Muravjeva.
Material: linden, natural, glass.

Ice Cream / Moroshenoe
Rhythmical ice cream.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, paint.

Mr. & Miss Matryoshka
An ideally shaped Matryoshka.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, paint.

Church Bell
A rocking dome with a sound.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, paint.

Chicken or the egg
A ten piece matryoshka set.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia
by Oksana Ostafichuck, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, paint.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

’Secrets of Russia’ process 2010-2012

30.04.2012. Kalyazin, Russia.
Our long Russian journey is nearing its ending and we are heading back to Finland.
Our search for Russian secrects took us to Sergiev Posad, Bogorodskoe, Zhostovo, Orekhovo Zuevo, Pavlovskye Posad, Nizhniy Novgorov, Semenov, Verbilkie, Kalyazin, St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Aamu working with masters Tamara and Natasha (in the back).

29.04.2012. Visiting valenki (felt boot) factory in Kalyazin, Russia. Mikhail and Aamu preparing felt for boots.

23.04.2012. Inside the factory with the Verbilkie ladies.

20.04.2012. Arriving to Verbilkie factory, located in the town of Verbilkie since 1766.

30.04.2012. We are having yet another factory tour trip in spring Russia.

14.03.2012. After a few weeks we are back in Semenov and see the first prototypes of our new designs.

31.02.2012. Candy shopping in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia.

After each factory visit – after learning the traditions and manufacturing skills – we start designing new products. Here Johan is producing a technical drawing with the help of a sunny day.

Aamu and our Matryoshka teacher in Semenov, Russia.

30.02.2012. Johan learning how the Matryoshka dolls are painted.

Matryoshka dolls treated with potato starch and stored for drying before the paint work.

27.02.2012. Making matryoshkas in Hohloma, Russia.

27.02.2012. Aamu and local Matryoshkas in Semenov, Russia.

Master Irina Petrova at work. Bogorodskoe, Russia. Each master carves the figurines from start to finish, thus making them look like their creators. ’Medvedi‚ (bear) being the most popular of the motivs.

23.02.2012. Company in Bogorodskoe. In this village the manufacturing of wooden toys began some 400 yeras ago. Above is a building where the workers live.

22.02.2012. Waiting for a train in Sergiev Posad in -20 degrees celcius.

21.02.2012. Master and his apprentices. Our very first self made Zhostovo trays. A classic Zostovo tray carries a flower bouquet with an peculiar light effect radiating from the center. A golden ornament encircles the bouquet.

20.02.2012. Next year and we are visiting Zhostovo, a traditional tray manufacturer since 19th century.
Mikhail and Anna are enlighting us the secrets behind the hand hammered tray making process.

12.2011. Our second trip to Russia takes us to Moscow where everything is bolshoi.

12.12.2010. Our first visit to Russia featuring our Islandic intern Hanna, who helped us in the finding of Russian Secrets.

2013
Secrets of Russia (part II)

Aamu Song and Johan Olin continue their journey to explore Russian manufacturing secrets. This year, the travels took them into Siberia. After visiting each factory, and getting to know their manufacturing secrets, they designed new products based on each manufacturers tradition. A collection of new traditional items ’Secrets of Russia’ was born.

The exhibition, with new secrets from Siberia, will open in St. Petersburg, Borey Art Center, on 1.05.2013.
The project was first exhibited in KIASMA (Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki) 15.06.–07.10.2012. Secrets of Russia (part I)

14.05.2013. Opening of COMPANY's exhibition Secrets of Russia in Borey Art Center, St. Petersburg, Russia. Spasibo bolshoi Lena, Topi, Pasha, Tatyana, Elina, Masha, Svetlana, Galina, Oksana and everyone at Borey.

SECRETS OF RUSSIA PRODUCTS 2013.

URAL MOUNTAINS /
An homage to Mt. Ural in Ural iron.
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Kasli, Ural mountains, Russia.
Size: 250 x 100 x 85 mm.
Material: Iron, paint.

FACE BAG /
A golden face bag
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Torzhok, Russia.
Material: Velvet, gold thread, plastic beads, zipper.

BEAUTY BAG /
Sumka Krasiva
A bag for making a beautiful face
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Torzhok, Russia.
Material: Velvet, gold thread, plastic beads, zipper.

GOLD ROLXX /
Rolxx Zoloto
A golden accessory for men
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Torzhok, Russia.
Material: Velvet, gold thread, lining, plastic beads, snap fasteners.

SCALE WOMAN /
A 1:20, 1:50 & 1:100 scale human
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured by hand carving in Tobolsk, Siberia by Svetlana Shishova.
Material: Elk horn.

SCALE MAN /
A 1:20, 1:50 & 1:100 scale human
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured by hand carving in Tobolsk, Siberia by Svetlana Shishova.
Material: Elk horn.

HOHLOMA STOOL /
Maximum golden Hohloma tradition
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Hohloma, Russia.
Size: height: 350 mm, width 330 mm.
Material: Birch, paint, aluminium powder, lacquer.

MAGIC MUSHROOM STOOL /
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Hohloma, Russia.
Size: height: 350 mm, width 330 mm.
Material: Birch, paint, lacquer.

SEA MATRYOSHKA /
More Matryoshka
Seafood chain matryoshka
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia by Oksana, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, paint, lacquer.

HEADS /
A hat stand full of thoughts.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia by Oksana, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, paint, lacquer.

FOREST STOOL /
The reality of russian forest.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia by Oksana, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, paint, lacquer.

PEACH BAG /
A bag for strange things.
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia by Oksana, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, paint, lacquer, leather.

LOLLIPOP Á LA RUSSIA /
A rhythmical lollipop
Designed by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia.
Manufactured in Semenov, Russia by Oksana, Igor, Galina, et. al.
Material: linden, paint, lacquer.

TVER TREES /
Forest made out of wood.
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Tver, Russia by Nadezuda Yakovleva.
Material: Linden, paint.

COMPANY & FRIENDS /
Kompaniya i Padruga
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufactured in Tver, Russia by Nadezuda Yakovleva.
Material: Linden, paint, thread.

14.05.2013. is the date when COMPANY's Secrets of Russia -exhibition opens in St. Petersburg. Place: Borey Art Center, Liteiniy 58. Before that, Company will be running around Siberia preparing works for the upcoming exhibition.

The Book 'Secrets of Russia' is finally published now and is available at the Borey Art Center.

12.05.2013. Company setting up Secret Shop in St. Petersburg.
Opening of the exhibition ’Secrets of Russia’ on 14th of May, at Borey Art Center, Liteiniy 58, St. Petersburg, Russia.

SECRET SKETCHES: