Estonian Academy of Arts presents Manifesto of Lightness chair exhibition at Milan's SaloneSatellite 2026

The Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) will showcase ten student-designed chairs in the exhibition Manifesto of Lightness at SaloneSatellite 2026 in Milan. Curated by Finnish designer Ilkka Suppanen, the display runs from 21 to 26 April at Rho Fiera Milano, Pavilion 7, Booth A34. Projects include an ergonomic wooden chair with Bauhaus influences by Alis Mäesalu, a bench using wet-bending techniques by Kristofer Soop, and a modular chair by Madli Bulgarin. All works emerged from the Seating Furniture Studio, a first-year course for architecture and interior architecture students at EKA. Participants must construct functional chairs solely from pre-cut wooden sticks and plywood, emphasizing minimal material use for clarity and sustainability. The exhibition represents a decade of experimentation, with chairs dating from 2018 to 2024. Other featured students include Ra Martin Puhkan, Karl Robin Timm, Karolin Kull, Linda Marie Zimmer, Madis Arp Keerd, Kadri Kallaste, and Sander Haugas. Tutors Yrjö Wiherheimo and Martin Relander also guided the studio. EKA, Estonia's sole public university for fine arts and design, has operated since 1914. The initiative highlights responsible choices and reduced carbon footprints through lightweight designs.