Kerstin Horlin-holmquist Biography
Kerstin Hörlin-Holmqvist was born in 1925 in Arvika, Sweden. Hörlin-Holmqvist began his higher education in England, attending school between 1945 and 1947 immediately after the end of the war. She studied art history and was fascinated by classic English style and upholstered furniture. He continued his studies at the Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm from 1948 to 1953. During this period, he already exhibited his creations, including his "large and small Kraal" wicker chairs, which showed the the influence of African traditions. These creations represented an interesting mix of craftsmanship and industrial production, and were selected to be exhibited at the "Möbler 52" exhibition in Gothenburg, where they attracted the attention of Nordiska Kompaniet. During her training, NK Triva director Elias Svedberg noticed the young and talented Kerstin Hörlin-Holmqvist. Hörlin-Holmqvist preferred soft lines, while the period was characterized by straight lines and strict angles. She was one of the first designers to use polystyrene to achieve the desired aesthetic results. While always maintaining the wooden structure, he combined different techniques to obtain the curves that characterize his "Paradiset" line. This timeless and iconic collection stands out for its soft simplicity and uniqueness in appearance, with light and clean lines that convey a romantic air. His delightful and distinctive mid-century designer furniture often recalls the style of classic English furniture, reflecting the influence of his years spent in England. Junio of Nanna Ditzel, Kerstin Hörlin-Holmqvist was part of the generation of Scandinavian women designers that included Grete Jalk and Tove Kindt-Larsen, characterized by great imagination and humor, who always walked their own path in design, remaining true to their own vision unique and humanistic. His collaboration with NK lasted until 1964, after which he worked in the furniture industry at the A&C collection in Kristianstad. He decorated the Brukshotellet in Bofors and the Hubert Humphrey Institute in Minneapolis. The architect and designer often collaborated with her husband, Erik Holmqvist, whom she married in 1950. Kerstin Hörlin-Holmqvist is represented, among others, at the National Museum in Stockholm.
