JOHN MELIN
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
SWEDISH, 1922–1992
OCTOBER 31 – NOVEMBER 39 2008

In the 1950’s, whilst creative director of advertising agency Svenska Telegrambyrån in Malmö Sweden, Swedish graphic designer John Melin (1921–1992) alongside Anders Österlin (born 1926) forged a highly conceptual approach to the treatment of posters, publications and gallery promotion, most notably for the Moderna Museet in Stockholm.|

“It was art and working with artists that interested him most. He had got to know Pontus Hultén (1924–2006), the director of Moderna Museet in Stockholm 1959–73. Hultén – under whose direction the museum attracted international attention – offered a working climate that was free from the economists of the marketing department and took part personally and with great enthusiasm in the work, together with Melin & Österlin among others."– Johan Melbi

Melin's body of work displays significant shifts between advertising and conceptual art, craft and graphic design.

DOWNLOAD POSTER (PDF)
with text by Johan Melbi

Install view
Posters, 70 x 100cm screenprint
Courtesty of Riksarkivet Sweden