Finnish glassart & design

Ella Varvio6.11.2018

Ella Varvio

Glass artist, designer

Specialized in combining illustrations and glass. Contemporary glass art, exhibitions Finland and abroad

Graduate from Aalto University 2015

Ma Thesis:Conscience of glass - Makers of artistic and artisan glass in Finland: realities, vocation and relationship with the industrial past

This year : artist-in-residence at the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York and instructor at UrbanGlass studios

Photo: Ammi Lahtinen / Galleria Mafka&Alakoski

History of Finnish glass

from creative industry to small studios

Photo: http://www.hagelstam.fi/jung-valter-1879-1946http://scandinaviancollectors.tumblr.com/post/85299333230/alvar-aalto-savoy-vase-1936-originally-designed

Valter Jung Alvar Aalto

https://www.woont.com/en/Designers/Tapio-Wirkkala-4310Photo: Bukowskis

Tapio Wirkkala

Photo: Bukowskis http://intoglass.blogspot.fi/2013/09/taidetta-lasista.html

Oiva Toikka

Nanny StillTimo Sarpaneva

Kerttu Nurminen

Heikki Orvola

Saara Hopea

Kaj Franck

Erkki Vesanto

Tamara Aladdin

Aimo Okkolin

Helena Tynell

Gunnell Nyman

Arttu Brummer

Aino Aalto

…

Photo: Bukowskis

Finnish Glass Now!

Iittala – factory of nostalgia?

Home and living brand & factory unit

Part of Fiskars Group

No more in-house glass designers > product design on freelance basis

Long product development

Pictures: Iittala.com

More versatile scene of small scale operators

Small studios : independent makers, co-operatives, associations

Educational institutes

Challenges : income, marketing, high material costs, pushing towards high-end design and fine art

One person hustling many roles

IKEA0,59e/piece

Iittala13,50e/2pieces

Mafka&Alakoski28e/piece

Images and price information (3.11.2018) : ikea.com, iittala.com, mafka-alakoski.fi

Glass places in Finland - not all:

Nuutajärvi Village of glassmaking since 1793School for glassblowingSummer exhibitions

RiihimäkiThe Finnish Glass MuseumGlass studios: Mafka&Alakoski, Lasismi

IittalaGlass factory

HelsinkiAalto UniversityDesign Museum, Iittala & Arabia Design CentreGalleries :Lokal, Forsblom, Mafka&Alakoski, etcAuction houses :Hagelstam, Bukowskis, etcSarpaneva DesignHytti ry

Nuutajärvi

Nuutajärvi Summer exhibition 2014Works by Alma Jantunen on foreground, Envelope on the background by Markku Salo

Lasisimi, RiihimäkiMafka & Alakoski, Riihimäki Riihimäki

The Finnish Glass Museum Riihimäki

Aalto University Hytti ry, Helsinki

Contemporary Finnish Glass Art

Photo: Renata Jakowleff

Renata Jakowleff

Photo: Muotobetoni

Kirsti Taiviola

Photo: Kirsti Taiviola

Markku SaloPhotos: Markku Salo

Pekka Jylhä

Photo: www.pekkajylha.fi

Helmi Remes

Photo: Rosenthal Gmbh

Photo: Timo Syrjänen

Katriina Nuutinen

Photos: katriinanuutinen.fi

Riikka Latva-Somppi

Riikka Haapasaari

Laura Aalto-Setälä

Sini Majuri

Alma Jantunen

Johannes Rantasalo

Anu Penttinen

Gina Salaris

Heikki Viinikainen

Marja Hepo-aho

Joonas Laakso

Kaappo Lähdesmäki

Hanna-Kaarina Heikkilä

Sauli Suomela

…

Ella Varvio

Katzstudio, TampereMafka&Alakoski studio, RiihimäkiCarpenter in Nuutajärvi

The Diver 2012 Photo: Iiro Immonen

Two faces of a drowned man 2012Photo: Iiro Immonen

In Tsar’s Garden 2014Photo: Heidi-Hanna Karhu

Let it bloom! 2017Nemeton vases 2017

Photos: Iiro Immonen

In case of extra time …

Heikki Viinikainen: Babushka for Nord Design 2017:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkxxrkMx_OQ

Iittala promotional video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMSMceTrnGg