Fujiwo Ishimoto is a Japanese texitile and ceramic designer who has been living in Helsinki, Finland for over 40 years.He first worked for the company Decembre, set up by Ristomatti Ratia, son of Marimekko's founders Armi and Viljo Ratia. Ishimoto switched over to Marimekko in 1974. His highly personal style gave Marimekko a boost during the 1970s and 1980s with more mature and abstract designs than the playful 1960s styles which first had made Marimekko famous. Inspired by traditional Asian art and culture but also by Finnish traditions and nature, Ishimoto has continued to reinvent himself. In total, he has made over 300 designs for Marimekko. Besides his work for Marimekko, he also creates unique ceramic works in the Arabia Art Department since 1989. In recognition of Ishimoto's nearly four decades of meritorious work in Finland and his valuable contribution to promoting awareness of Finnish design abroad (especially in his native Japan), he received the Pro Finlandia Medal awarded by the President of Finland in 2011.§This book was published for his exhibition in Tokyo in December 2012. Most of the contents are his textile and ceramic works but the photographs of his relative places and interviews are included. This is a title for designers, textile or ceramic lovers, and those who are interested in Finnish designs. Even those who do not know Ishimoto will enjoy and be inspired by the book.
