What causes flat ribbon stools. How to identify flat or thin stools. When flat stools may indicate a serious condition. What to do if you notice persistent changes in stool shape.

Understanding Flat Ribbon Stools: What They Look Like and Why They Occur

Flat ribbon stools, also known as pencil-thin or tape-like stools, are bowel movements that appear flattened, thin, or ribbon-like instead of the typical rounded shape. While occasional changes in stool appearance are normal, persistent flat stools may sometimes indicate an underlying health issue.

What exactly characterizes flat ribbon stools? They typically have the following features:

• Flattened, square, or string-like appearance rather than rounded
• Thin width, often described as pencil-thin
• May be accompanied by loose stools or diarrhea
• Can vary in color and frequency

Are flat stools always a cause for concern? Not necessarily. Occasional flat stools can occur due to dietary changes or variations in bowel habits. However, if you notice persistent changes in stool shape lasting more than a few days, it’s worth paying attention to and potentially discussing with a healthcare provider.

Common Causes of Flat Ribbon Stools

Several factors can contribute to the occurrence of flat or thin stools. Let’s explore some of the most common causes:

Dietary Changes

Have you recently altered your diet? Changes in fiber intake can significantly impact stool consistency and shape. A low-fiber diet may lead to thinner, flatter stools as there’s less bulk to form the typical rounded shape.

Dehydration

Not drinking enough water can cause stools to become thinner and harder to pass. Adequate hydration is crucial for maintaining normal bowel function and stool consistency.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS, a common gastrointestinal disorder affecting an estimated 12% of people in the United States, can cause various changes in bowel habits, including alternating between constipation and diarrhea. This can result in stools of varying shapes and sizes, including flat or ribbon-like stools.

Constipation

Chronic constipation can lead to the production of thin, stringy stools. When stool moves slowly through the colon, it can become compacted and emerge in a flattened shape.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

In men, an enlarged prostate gland can put pressure on the rectum, potentially causing changes in stool shape. While BPH primarily affects urination, some individuals may experience bowel-related symptoms, including flat or thin stools.

When Flat Ribbon Stools May Indicate a Serious Condition

While often harmless, flat ribbon stools can sometimes be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. It’s important to be aware of these possibilities, especially if the changes persist or are accompanied by other symptoms.

Colorectal Cancer

In rare cases, persistent thin or flat stools can be a sign of colorectal cancer. A tumor growing in the colon can create an obstruction, causing stool to take on a flattened shape as it passes through. However, it’s crucial to note that many other less serious conditions can cause similar stool changes.

Colon Polyps

Benign growths in the colon, known as polyps, can sometimes affect stool shape. While most polyps are harmless, some can develop into cancer over time, making regular screenings important.

Fecal Impaction

Severe constipation can lead to fecal impaction, where hardened stool becomes stuck in the colon. This can cause only small amounts of liquid stool to pass around the blockage, potentially appearing flat or ribbon-like.

Rectal Ulcers

Ulcers in the rectum can affect how stool is shaped as it passes through, potentially resulting in flat or thin stools.

Recognizing Warning Signs: When to Seek Medical Attention

While occasional changes in stool shape are usually not cause for alarm, certain symptoms accompanying flat ribbon stools warrant medical attention. Be on the lookout for:

• Blood in the stool or on toilet paper
• Persistent changes in stool consistency or frequency
• Feelings of incomplete evacuation
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever

How long should you wait before consulting a doctor about flat stools? If you notice consistently flat or thin stools for three days or more, it’s advisable to reach out to your healthcare provider for evaluation.

Diagnostic Approaches for Flat Ribbon Stools

When you consult a healthcare provider about persistent flat or thin stools, they may employ various diagnostic methods to determine the underlying cause. These may include:

Physical Examination

Your doctor will likely begin with a thorough physical examination, including palpating your abdomen and potentially performing a digital rectal exam to check for any obvious abnormalities.

Medical History Review

Providing a detailed medical history, including recent dietary changes, medication use, and any other symptoms you’ve experienced, can help your doctor narrow down potential causes.

Stool Analysis

A stool sample may be requested to check for signs of infection, inflammation, or hidden blood.

Imaging Studies

Depending on your symptoms and risk factors, your doctor may recommend imaging studies such as:

• Abdominal X-rays
• CT scans
• MRI

Endoscopic Procedures

In some cases, your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy to visually examine the inside of your colon and rectum.

Treatment Options for Flat Ribbon Stools

The treatment for flat ribbon stools depends on the underlying cause. Here are some potential approaches:

Dietary Modifications

If your flat stools are related to dietary factors, increasing fiber intake and ensuring adequate hydration can often help. What foods can promote healthier stool formation?

• Whole grains
• Fruits and vegetables
• Legumes
• Nuts and seeds

Lifestyle Changes

Regular exercise and stress management techniques can improve overall digestive health and may help regulate bowel movements.

Medications

Depending on the cause, your doctor may prescribe medications such as:

• Laxatives for constipation
• Anti-diarrheal medications for IBS-related diarrhea
• Antibiotics if an infection is present

Treatment of Underlying Conditions

If flat ribbon stools are due to an underlying condition like BPH or colorectal cancer, treating the primary condition will often resolve the stool shape changes.

Preventing Flat Ribbon Stools: Lifestyle and Dietary Considerations

While not all causes of flat ribbon stools are preventable, certain lifestyle and dietary choices can promote overall digestive health and reduce the likelihood of experiencing persistent stool shape changes.

Fiber-Rich Diet

Consuming adequate fiber is crucial for maintaining healthy bowel movements. How much fiber should you aim for daily? The recommended daily intake is 25-30 grams for adults. Good sources of fiber include:

• Whole grains (oats, quinoa, brown rice)
• Fruits (apples, pears, berries)
• Vegetables (broccoli, carrots, spinach)
• Legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas)
• Nuts and seeds

Proper Hydration

Drinking enough water is essential for maintaining soft, well-formed stools. How much water should you drink daily? While individual needs vary, a general guideline is to aim for 8 glasses (64 ounces) of water per day.

Regular Exercise

Physical activity can help stimulate bowel movements and promote overall digestive health. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can affect digestive function. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises may help maintain regular bowel habits.

Avoiding Trigger Foods

If you notice certain foods seem to contribute to changes in your stool shape or consistency, consider keeping a food diary to identify and avoid potential triggers.

Understanding the Link Between Flat Ribbon Stools and Colorectal Health

While flat ribbon stools can occur due to various benign causes, they can sometimes be an indicator of colorectal health issues. Understanding this connection is crucial for early detection and prevention of potentially serious conditions.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Regular colorectal cancer screenings are essential, especially for individuals over 45 or those with a family history of the disease. What screening methods are available?

• Colonoscopy
• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• Stool DNA test
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• CT colonography

How often should you undergo colorectal cancer screening? Guidelines vary based on individual risk factors, but generally, adults should begin screening at age 45 and continue at regular intervals as recommended by their healthcare provider.

Importance of Early Detection

Early detection of colorectal issues, whether benign or malignant, often leads to more successful treatment outcomes. Paying attention to changes in your bowel habits, including persistent flat or thin stools, can play a crucial role in early detection.

Risk Factors for Colorectal Issues

Understanding your risk factors for colorectal problems can help you stay vigilant about your digestive health. Common risk factors include:

• Age (risk increases after 50)
• Family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
• Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Sedentary lifestyle

If you have multiple risk factors, discussing appropriate screening schedules with your healthcare provider is crucial.

Navigating Digestive Health: When to Worry and When to Relax

Experiencing changes in your stool shape or consistency can be concerning, but it’s important to approach these changes with a balanced perspective. How can you determine when to be concerned about flat ribbon stools?

Temporary vs. Persistent Changes

Occasional changes in stool shape are usually not cause for alarm. However, if flat or thin stools persist for more than a few days, it’s worth paying attention to and potentially discussing with a healthcare provider.

Accompanying Symptoms

The presence of other symptoms alongside flat ribbon stools can provide important clues about their significance. What symptoms should prompt immediate medical attention?

• Severe abdominal pain
• Rectal bleeding
• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent changes in bowel habits
• Fever

Trust Your Instincts

While it’s important not to panic over every change in your bowel movements, it’s equally important to trust your instincts. If something feels significantly different or concerning, don’t hesitate to seek medical advice.

Open Communication with Healthcare Providers

Many people feel embarrassed discussing bowel habits with their doctors. However, open and honest communication about your digestive health is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Healthcare providers are accustomed to discussing these topics and can provide valuable insights and reassurance.

Remember, while flat ribbon stools can sometimes indicate underlying health issues, they are often benign and temporary. By staying informed, paying attention to your body, and seeking medical advice when appropriate, you can effectively manage your digestive health and catch any potential problems early.

Causes, Home Treatment, When to See a Doctor

Flat poops can happen due to changes in your diet. Some health conditions, including constipation, can cause long or flat poop. If unexplained changes last a few days, consider talking with a doctor.

Changes in stool consistency and color aren’t uncommon based on what you’ve recently eaten. Sometimes, you may notice that your poop appears especially flat, thin, or string-like. Usually, this variation isn’t cause for worry, and your poop will return to its “normal” appearance shortly after.

However, there are times when consistently flat poops may indicate a more concerning underlying condition. Keep reading to find out what they may be.

A lot of times, your poop looks a lot like your intestines. It’s slightly rounded and lumpy. Flat poop isn’t round. Instead, it’s square or string-like in appearance. Sometimes, you have flat poop along with very loose stool that may include diarrhea.

Flat poop doesn’t have a specific color or frequency. You may notice you experience more flat poops when you’ve changed your diet (such as eaten less fiber). Other times, you may see flat poop in the toilet bowl and can’t link it back to anything you did or didn’t eat.

Here’s what flat poop may look like:

Sometimes, your poop is flat and there’s no underlying cause. Just as your poop can be pebble-sized or different colors, flat poops may be one of the variations you occasionally see. However, if you start having flat poops more often, it may be due to one of the following causes.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that occurs due to an interrupted function of your gut and brain. IBS can cause abdominal pain as well as bowel movement changes that include diarrhea, constipation, or both. Those with IBS may experience a variety of stool types, ranging from very large poops to flat ones.

An estimated 12 percent of people in the United States have IBS, so this condition can be a common cause of flat poops and other stool changes.

Constipation

Constipation can be a common cause of flat stool that is usually stringy in consistency. Constipation can occur when you don’t get enough fiber in your diet to add some extra bulk to your stool. As a result, your stool may be thinner, flat, and more difficult to pass.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Sometimes, the cause of flat stool isn’t the intestinal tract itself but something around it. This is the case for benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. This condition causes the male prostate gland to enlarge. The prostate is positioned just in front of the rectum and below the bladder.

While BPH more commonly affects urination (such as a weak stream when peeing), some people do have symptoms related to passing stool, such as constipation and stool changes like flat poop.

Colorectal cancer

Although rare, it’s possible that thin stool can indicate colon cancer. This is because a tumor may grow in the colon that keeps your stool from moving through in its normal shape.

While colorectal cancer doesn’t always cause a lot of symptoms in its earliest stages, it can also lead to symptoms including rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, or problems emptying your stool.

Other possible causes

Flat poop may also be due to any condition that may affect how stool moves through or exits the colon. Examples include:

• colon polyps
• fecal impaction
• hemorrhoids
• rectal ulcers

Even abdominal hernias can cause enough narrowing of stool movement so that stool may appear flat.

Pencil-thin poop isn’t always cause for concern but you should see your doctor if you are experiencing flat poop and have any of the following symptoms:

• blood in your stool or on the toilet paper
• changes in the consistency of your stool, such as increasing diarrhea
• changes in the frequency of your bowel movements, such as going more or less often
• feeling like you aren’t fully emptying your stool every time
• high fever
• stomach pain or cramping

If you have consistently flat stools for three days or more, it may be time to call your doctor.

Flat poops happen. It’s important to pay attention to any other symptoms you may be experiencing, such as abdominal pain or constipation, to understand the potential cause.

If you’re worried your flat poops could be due to an underlying condition, call your doctor to get checked out. Your doctor may also be able to make recommendations that can help your stool take on a more expected appearance.

Flat Ribbon Stool Causes other than Colon Cancer » Scary Symptoms

If so, you’ve no doubt read or heard that colon cancer can cause BMs to come out in the shape of flat ribbons.

If this happens what should you do?

When someone notices ribbon stools, “the medical provider is concerned about the possibility of colon obstruction or IBS,” says Franjo Vladic, MD, a board certified gastroenterologist with Center for Digestive Health and Endoscopy Center in Ohio.

Dr. Vladic continues, “If there is an obstruction, it’s because there is something in the lumen [lining] of the colon causing it to be thin (i. e., a large colon polyp, narrowing from stricture, or mass).”

Yes, a benign polyp can cause flat ribbon stools by partially blocking the anal exit that BMs would go through, causing the feces to take on this peculiar formation.

A polyp has a good chance of evolving into colon cancer if not removed, so that’s why during a colonoscopy, any polyps that are discovered are removed on the spot — as shown below in the illustration.

Schematic of polyp removal inside the colon. Shutterstock/Phonlamai Photo

A “mass” can be cancer in the colon—which would be discovered in a colonoscopy, removed and sent to a pathology lab for a confirmation biopsy.

“For IBS, stools can be flat, but providers are unaware as to what causes the stool to present this way,” says Dr. Vladic.

Bottom line: If you notice your stools are in the shape of flat ribbons, see a doctor. Do not make assumptions.

Other Symptoms of Colon Cancer

(No particular order)

Abdominal pain

Unexplained diarrhea

Unexplained constipation

Blood in your stools. This can appear as red clots, maroon clots or like a black tarry or gooey substance.

Unexplained weight loss

Feeling you have to have a bowel movement even though you just had one.

Fatigue or weakness for no reason

Cologuard for Colon Cancer Screening

A test called Cologuard can be taken at home if you’re worried about colon cancer or have flat ribbon stools.

It works as follows: A sample of your bowel movement is sent out for analysis with state-of-the-art DNA technology that will detect abnormal cells that are suspicious for colon cancer.

Your doctor can then advise you on undergoing a colonoscopy.

Another Suspicious Symptom

When constipation alternates with diarrhea, you should inform your doctor.

Here is exactly what “constipation alternating with diarrhea” means.

More information on Cologuard

Dr. Vladic’s special interests include acid reflux, colitis, colon cancer, GERD, heartburn, IBS, liver disease, obesity, pancreatitis and peptic ulcer, among many others.

Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.  

When Stool Color Can Mean Cancer

Thick Stools Suddenly Get Thin: Colon Cancer?

Pencil Stools Return to Normal: Can Still Be Colon Cancer?

White Film on Stools: Benign Mucus or Cancer?

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or Colon Cancer Symptom Comparison

“I’m very, very sorry” How the head of IKEA stole ideas from competitors and got rich on fashion But in recent years, its management has decided that simply furnishing apartments in almost all corners of the world is no longer enough: the company claims to form the artistic and fashionable taste of buyers.

Lenta.ru traced IKEA’s path from making prefabricated stools and stealing ideas from competitors to mega-profitable collaborations with leading designers in the fashion industry.

Match Boy

According to Astrid Lindgren, one of the most famous Swedes in the world, her native province of Småland has always produced an unusually large number of enterprising children. She described some of them in her books Emil from Lenneberg and We are all from Bullerby. Village guys in a poor country in the first half of the 20th century came up with a variety of ways to get rich: they sold berries from their garden, helped their neighbors with their household chores, and so on. Many young entrepreneurs never succeeded, but some did manage to break through.

The most famous Smålandian who started making his fortune at school age and entered the Forbes list of billionaires in his old age is Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA

Kamprad was born in 1926. He started his business as a boy, reselling to his neighbors matches bought cheaply with his pocket money in Stockholm. It is noteworthy that the center of production of this penny, but vital product was located in Jönköping, a city in his native province of Småland, but in the capital the price of matches was lower.

Then, after the end of World War II, in which Sweden remained neutral, Ingvar opened a full-fledged consumer goods business with his savings and a gift from his father: first it was pens and stationery, then furniture.

Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA

Photo: TT News Agency / Hans Runesson / Reuters

Kamprad’s success came not least due to his frugality and out-of-the-box thinking, natural flair for trends, ability to learn from positive experience and learn from the mistakes of others . In the history of the company there were several epoch-making episodes that determined its development.

For example, the company began to place orders for some pieces of furniture at factories abroad, and also developed the principle of selling goods in unassembled form with the option of self-delivery and assembly (flat packages were easier to transport, the company did not have to spend money on the salary of assemblers). In addition, her management has entered into cooperation with little-known (and, accordingly, not requiring exorbitant fees) designers.

One of the principles of their work, which ensured the popularity of IKEA among the widest segments of the population, was “peeping” and interpreting the design findings of employees of higher segment companies.

Geniuses of plagiarism

As a rule, in the process of “redesign”, the cost of production became cheaper, and it could be afforded by those who could not afford the prototype. One of the most illustrative examples is the story of the three-legged stool Stool 60 by the great Finn Alvar Aalto. The architect came up with and patented it back in the mid-1930s. For its time, it was a breakthrough in industrial design. For all its seeming simplicity, a round stool with legs made of bent solid wood was not only an ideally adjusted art object, a standard of “functional style”, but also a rather expensive thing to manufacture.

IKEA, through the hands of its lead designer Gillis Lundgren, turned the expensive, snobbish Stool 60 into one of the most massive and inexpensive pieces of furniture in the world – Frosta. All that was needed was to replace the bent array with bent plywood and add the fourth leg. Legally, this is a different object of patenting, in practice – an almost complete copy, repeating the proportions of the original.

Not all customers, buying a very recognizable design cheaply, realized that the stools have a different number of “limbs”. It’s funny that among the creations of Aalto was the prototype Stool 60 with four legs; it (with slight changes in color and material) was launched into the series after the Artek brand, founded by the famous Finnish architect, was bought by the Swiss company Vitra.

The design world waited with annoyance and interest when the billion-dollar democratic company would finally “break through”. That moment almost came in 2017, when the German brand E15 sent the Swedes a lawsuit for “plagiarism” of its SLO2 MO bed, which was developed back in the early 2000s. Indeed, at first glance, one of the “IKEA” bestsellers – the Malm bed – was almost confusingly similar to the SLO2 MO, except for the difference in materials (solid versus veneered chipboard) and price (the German one was almost 20 times more expensive).

The court rejected the claims, because Malm went on sale a few months earlier than SLO2 MO

However, the specifics of the furniture business is such that IKEA could easily peep the German design at a profile exhibition, quickly copy it and put it into series. The reverse process involving the respectable luxury brand E15 is hardly imaginable: the Germans proved that they had been developing the ill-fated bed for three years. In social networks, perplexed and sarcastic passages appeared that it was impossible to design such a simple thing for so long.

Only fashion will help

It must be admitted that anyone who sees SLO2 MO or Malm understands that sarcasm is quite appropriate in this case: the beds are extremely minimalistic. In fact, they are a frame for a mattress with a rectangular headboard without any decorative details. This can be called a conscious IKEA practice: their products strongly resemble the extremely simple items of other brands with minimal but characteristic changes in design and from cheaper materials.

However, in the 21st century, this approach was not enough: competitors who had run the IKEA business model were already stepping on the company’s heels. To regain consumer attention, the company decided to resort to a very popular strategy of the 2010s – collaborations. The company’s own designers, whose names were printed almost exclusively on labels and catalogs of IKEA products and were little known even to connoisseurs of product design, had to make room. IKEA, following fellow countrymen from the mass-market clothing brand H&M and other companies, has relied on celebrities.

Moreover, the “offensive” went on all fronts. Products for the brand were developed by professional architects, and product designers, and fashion designers, and perfumers, and just cult personalities – like the American comic book author and the creative director of the famous Parisian concept multi-brand Colette (closed in 2017).

Colette CEO Sarah Andelman and New York-based artist Craig Redman, co-founder of Craig & Karl, author of the comic book character Darcel Disappoints (sometimes translated as “Darcel Critiks”), created the Förnyad (renewed) collection. These products, declared as “items for school and student life”, appeared on the shelves (more precisely, in the halls) of IKEA in the summer of 2019years and very quickly disappeared from there, bought up by grateful customers.

The collection came out bright and lively, as it should be for a youth line: a stool with three white and one blue legs, a sofa cover and a bag with a colorful print, a carpet and a sofa cushion with a “portrait” of Darsel Kritiks, pencils, adhesive tape with pictures and decals .

In the furniture collection, Sarah Andelman encoded an Easter egg: on the textiles of the bag and sofa cover, and on the cover for the tablet, there is a typical Parisian blue sign with the name of Rue Saint-Honoré. This ironically plays on the name of rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where the Colette multi-brand was located, one of the most fashionable streets in Paris with many expensive shops. In contrast, Saint-Honoré is the most ordinary street, just as “democratic” as the Förnyad line, declared as a collection for students.

The Markerad collection, an IKEA collaboration with controversial designer Virgil Abloh, who combined the posts of creative director of the Louis Vuitton menswear line and managed his own brand Off-White, made even more noise in the same 2019. Abloh is a favorite of the public and a star of secular parties; people literally fought for the right to attend his show.

The concept of the collaboration was unexpected accents on trivial IKEA items. On the white carpet, they printed a print that imitates (in a multiply enlarged size) IKEA cash receipt, on the green carpet – the inscription Wet Grass (“wet grass”). The iconic blue IKEA handbag, over 70 liters in size, was printed with Sculpture on a recycled heavy paper bag cut exactly to Fracta’s pattern, and Temporary (“temporarily”) appeared on the glass of a wall clock with a completely blank white dial. Under the leg of a rustic-style chair (the Swedes call it pinnstol), Abloh placed a wedge that usually props up doors, and he folded the mirror from several fragments so that the reflection in it “breaks”. It is easy to guess that the collection scattered instantly.

Pink and charismatic

Hardly anyone can match Virgil Abloh’s ability to impress and media buzz. After the collaboration with the founder of Off-White, IKEA faced a difficult task: who should be invited next to make it work just as well?

The choice fell on one of the most prominent figures in the British fashion world in the 1970s. No, this is not about the “Queen of Punk” Vivienne Westwood, but about his “princess” – pink-haired Zandra Rhodes, who dressed Freddie Mercury, the frontman of Queen. For more than forty years since 1977 years old, when Zandra’s Conceptual Chic collection (pink and black ruffled and pinned dresses and tops) brought her fame, the designer has aged, but has not changed herself. She still wears a fuchsia bob and paints her eyelids with bright blue shadows.

Her Karismatisk (charismatic) collection for IKEA consists of 26 items due to be available in September 2021. The most notable of these is a semi-circular frill bag made from the same recycled synthetic material as Fracta, but not in the usual blue or yellow, but in hot pink, like the designer’s hair.

Another resonant collaboration happened at IKEA a year ago, in 2020, when almost all of Europe was sitting at home remotely and trying to find pleasure in it. The pleasure of spending time at home is usually associated with a romantic dinner, bathroom and bedroom – and all this must be by candlelight. IKEA once again made the right decision and launched the collection of scented candles Osynlig (“invisible”).

Swede of Indian origin Ben Gorham, founder of Byredo perfume brand, was responsible for 13 fragrances in the collection. In its habit of practicality, IKEA has developed ceramic cups with lids for candles that are reusable: they can store, for example, cotton pads or use them as a cup for makeup brushes or toothbrushes.

Another example of versatility is the Bygglek collection, a collaboration between IKEA and the children’s and teen brand Lego. The line includes not only Lego parts, but also plastic storage containers that children can use as building elements. The box is transformed into a house, a launch pad for a rocket, or, say, the torso of a cheerful domestic monster.

Not furniture at all

Like most companies with Scandinavian roots, IKEA pays a lot of attention to recycling, materials recycling, alternative energy sources. Therefore, it is not surprising that another collaboration, which is expected to be released this year, involves an appeal to green energy.

This is the collection of the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, the author of the sensational installation The Weather Project at the London gallery Tate Modern. For IKEA, Eliasson (in collaboration with engineer Frederik Ottesen) came up with solar panels in the form of celestial bodies. The line is called Little Sun (“Little Sun”). It is assumed that the batteries can be attached to home charging stations and recharge smartphones and other gadgets with their help.

In general, IKEA cooperates with artists most often – and this is not surprising, because art and design – fine and applied art – go hand in hand. In 2021, the sixth IKEA Art Event collection went on sale, and it is dedicated to exploring this very clash of art and design.

The collection includes wall plafonds in the form of a circle with a slot by designer Sabine Marselis, a “flying” clock in the spirit of Salvador Dali by American artist Daniel Arsham, lamps in the form of Ikea branded hex key-screwdriver from the Japanese art group Gelchop, a vase and a blanket with meme inscriptions I’m so so so sorrryyyy (“I’m very, very, very sorry”) and I wait here for you forever as long as it takes (“I’m waiting for you here forever – as long as it takes”) from designer Stefan Marx and a three-dimensional painting with mini-drones from the studio Humans since 1982.

Once upon a time, Ingvar Kamprad created a company whose goal was to provide poor people with practical furniture. Now his company has reached a new level and provides people who are far from art with art objects available for admiration and possession. It is not known what is more important: practicality or beauty – probably, one without the other simply does not make sense.

painting, sculpture, chair, tureen, necklace… • Interior+Design

Design

The 20th anniversary fair PAD (Paris Art+Design) opens, a platform that gathers galleries offering paintings, graphics and sculpture of the XX century, works of arts and crafts and a first-class pool of designer items: from furniture by Art Nouveau craftsmen to chairs and tables from the Dutch association Droog Design.

The fair is traditionally loved not only by collectors, but also by top decorators. It is no coincidence that gallerists and antique dealers, who have long won fame as interior masters, stand here with multi-meter stands that are spectacular in terms of scenography: Yves Gast, Shahan Minassian, Francis Sultana and others. Here Dansk Møbelkunst sells all the classics of Danish design from the mid-twentieth century, François Laffanour (Galerie Downtown) offers collectors first-class opuses of French modernists, Beatrice Saint Laurent (Galerie BSL) and Maria Wettergren (Maria Wettergren) inspire modern designers with fantastic objects that are specially prepared to show on PAD.

Table, diz. Pierre Cardin. Varnish. Tree. OK. 1980. Galerie Joachim Franco.

Chest of drawers Chrystal, diz. P. and H. Garrido. Galerie Garrido.

This year, the general design of the exhibition was handled by interesting antique dealers from Toulouse, Thierry Meriloux and Daniel Sadiuca. One of the main intrigues of the event is the presentation of the Moët Hennessy award. The jury of the award will include the first persons of the modern interior: including Philippe Starck, Pierre Yovanovitch, Vincent Darre, Joseph Diran, Francois-Joseph Graf, Jacques Grange, India Madavi, Sarah Lavoine. The high meeting will be headed by the famous Parisian architect, who has long been loved by Russian customers, Jean-Michel Wilmotte.

Console BRM45, diz. B. Romeda. Bronze. Galerie Dutko.

Table AT 314, diz. H. Wegner. Andreas Tuck, Odesa, 1960. Galerie Le Beau.

Cocoon table, diz. N. Carbonell. Carpenters Workshop Gallery.

W. Fournier.