The changing face of wallpaper

Bjorn Nilsson is design manager at Eco-Borastapeter.

Recently, the first major UK exhibition of artists’ wallpapers, with work by over 30 artists including Andy Warhol, Sarah Lucas and Damien Hirst, went on display in Manchester, England.

Kitsch ideas of home decoration were turned upside down as artists subverted stereotypes of wallpaper by expressing messages about warfare, racism, cultural conflicts and gender.

The paper in the exhibition provided an unprecedented insight into this bold and progressive contemporary art form.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT Please click here to comment on this article

Wallpaper has long been thought of as a backdrop to the main event, yet with design expanding into this area of the industry, and with so many prominent designers and artists using the medium as their primary method of expression, this exhibition provided a sincere exploration of the possibilities and power of print.

An Eco-Boråstapeter wallpaper is characterised by being distinctive without being too extreme, which is very timely and appropriate for the market. The key words are young, individual and trendy. The hottest trends right now are smaller patterns and the mixing of mini and maxi designs. Turquoise meets pastels, but also the white-like and black-like, which is to say whites and blacks that absorb other colours.

So the agreed consensus is that wallcoverings are developing into more than just a backdrop. They are more economical, last longer and have much more purpose in the home and commercial space than just a form of interior decoration. They are also a way of communication by expressing strong messages through art, a way to change a space and a way to display one’s personality through design and colour choice.

With regards to the development of wallpaper in the Middle East, it is undoubtedly growing, in line with construction development. Where there are walls, there will be wallcoverings.

Björn Nilsson is design manager at Eco-Boråstapeter, available from
Kollektion General Trading, Dubai.
Tel: +971 (0)4 3306899; email: info@thekollektion.com; www.thekollektion.com.