The exhibition Our Roots explores how frugal Småland creativity, entrepreneurism, and Swedish modernism have helped shape IKEA's DNA. Through a myriad of stories, historical objects and interactive experiences, visitors learn about the ingenuity of the poor farming community in Småland and how increasing prosperity in the first half of the 20th century led to new ideas about a better life at home.
Yoke has developed several interactive installations that explore the hard life in the last century through concrete bodily experiences. Here, visitors are invited to work up a sweat when they churn digital butter on an old-fashioned butter churner or remove digital boulders from the field with a physical lever.
In the exhibition's film room, Yoke has developed a cinematic experience using historical material. The experience ties the exhibition together and draws a red thread from the homes of the poor farming communities to modern Sweden. With dynamic projections from floor to ceiling, visitors are surrounded by the story, where sound, images and film are animated in several tempi and different ways. Through a strong aesthetic approach, the story of IKEA's roots unfolds in six thematic chapters.
The exhibition has been developed in close collaboration with the IKEA Museum, Expology SE and PJADAD.
Location: Älmhult, Sweden
Photography: Yoke and IKEA Museum
