Earlier this spring I had a very interesting week in Germany – I was working at Glashütte Gernheim with glass engraving together with a colleague from Finland, Henriikka Pöllänen. The residency was part of Glass Engraving Network’s and Glass Museum Gernheim’s Gravur on Tour -exhibition. We were working at museum’s studios with great assistance from glass professionals : Heikko Schulze Höing, Korbinian Stöckle, Rasit Rejwan Toplu.
Here are some pics from the travel :
Glashutte Gernheim – hotshop is in this Glasturm building which is part of an old glass factory. Glashutte is part of LWL Museums of Industrial Heritage and they show different aspects to the industrial history in the area of Westphalen. Here’s part of the coldworking area.Inside the hotshop of Glasturm, Rasit Rejwan Toplu and Korbinian Stöckle working.
It was rather hectic to work with engraving and Graal technique in such a short time, but I managed to produce some nice pieces. Many thanks to the museum, organizing glass engravers and the museum staff for the opportunity! The new pieces made during the week will join the Gravur on Tour -exhibition.
Engraving a horse motif on coloured glass blank.Me and my newest horse piece.
Gravur on Tour – exhibition is held in the old manor house building ”Herrenhaus” and the other museum buildings are close by – such as the Glasturm glass studio. Gravur on Tour is a wonderful showcase of contemporary glass engraving and definitely worth visiting!
Gravur on Tour 19.03. – 09.09.2023
LWL Museum – Glashütte Gernheim
Gernheim 12, 32469 Petershagen
Open Tuesday – Sunday 10-18
Herrenhaus – manor house building, the Gravur on Tour exhibition is set here : contemporary glass engraving art from 45 different artistsHorses I will ride in the afterlife – my pieces at Gravur on Tour group exhibition
Glass Museum Gernheim in Germany is hosting an exhibition of contemporary glass engraving art from allover Europe. The show wants to highlight how old craft skills can turn into contemporary art. Exhibition is called Gravur on Tour and it’s curated by the museum and a network of European glass engravers. I am proud to be part of the exhibition with three artworks. Exhibition opens 19th of March and continues until 9th of September 2023.
Horses I will ride in the afterlife, 2022 – artworks that I have send to Gernheim, Germany
Gravur on Tour: Glashütte Gernheim 2023 19.03. – 09.09.2023 LWL-Museum Gernheim Glassworks Gernheim 12, Petershagen, Germany Museum open from Tuesday to Sunday 10-18
During the turn of the year I have few of my artworks at Winter Art Market at Gumbostrand Konst & Form, a lovely gallery near the sea, in Sipoo not far from Helsinki. For example Okapi is there looking for a new home :
Okapi 2022, inspired by a visit to Bronx zoo
In 2023 I will continue with the super interesting PhotonArt project which I explained a bit in my previous post. I will be the artist in the team that explores colourants for glass.
Exhibition wise next year will bring up a group exhibition in Germany and a solo exhibition in my hometown Tampere, Finland. The latter presents the art that I am making as part of PhotonArt project. Galleria Himmelblau in old industrial buildings of Finlayson factory will host my exhibition at the end of 2023.
In Germany, Glass Museum Gernheim will present an extensive exhibition of contemporary engraved glass, proud to be part of that! The engraving exhibition will be there 19.3.-9.9.2022.
How about combining glass art, archeology and photonics in one project? I have been starting on a multidisciplinary PhotonArt project that does exactly that!
The unique glass colour samples, made for my artistic work by Tampere University Photonics laboratory. Some of these are inspired by ancient Chinese glazes.
In this project glazes from ancient Chinese ceramics are being analyzed to both understand their composition and to design new glass materials and colours. Tampere University has received ceramic shards dating from Song Dynasty (960-1279AD) from the collections of ASET Stiftung. Song Dynasty ceramics are known for their elegant design and variety of different glazes. Glazing means a thin layer of glass both decorating and protecting the surface of the pottery.
Raw early stage sketches showing variety of shapes seen in Song Dynasty ceramics.
Specific glazes were chosen for this project based on their color and texture which are due to the presence of crystals and metallic particles. In the first phase of the research the composition of glazes was analyzed using different scanning methods such as electron microscope and X-ray fluorescence.
The ancient Chinese glazes serve as an inspiration for development of new glass materials for both art and science. The aim is to create similar colours and metallic crystals in different glass compositions. The focus for photonics is in optical glass and enhancing and altering its properties, whereas glass artist is more interested in colour hues and artistic expression.
Example of the glazed ceramics analyzed in this project. Photo : ASET Stiftung
I consider it a great priviledge to be the artist in this project and get tailored colours to work with. Melting the glasses, blowing and sculpting them, grinding and engraving will reveal how the colours suit for small studio use.
Close up of hot glass on a blowing pipe
Furthermore I will look for inspiration from the past, especially Song Dynasty ceramics – whether it be classical shapes, certain colours or motifs from tomb statues. At the end of next year I will be having an exhibition at Galleria Himmelblau, Tampere – there I will show the outcomes of this project!
More early stage sketches : inspiration from the ancient Chinese ceramic horse sculptures found in tombs. They were supposed to be your ride in the afterlife…
The project is supported by Finnish Cultural Trust’s Pirkanmaa Regional Funds. Earlier this year they released an article on PhotonArt, you can check it on the link below :
I am having a mini-exhibition of my glass artworks and samples from PhotonArt project at the French Institute in Helsinki 1-17.6.2022. Moreover the institute is organizing a Café scientifique talk around the new era of glass. Talk is held on 16th of June, glass scientists Laeticia Petit and Jonathan Massera – and glass artist yours truly – are talking about past, presence and future of glass!
I am honored to be part of international glass art exhibition in Germany – the exhibition is titled Caution! Fragile! – Achtung! Zerbrechlich! in German. It shows different aspects to glass craft and how the tradition is changing. Exhibition takes place at Waldmuseum Zwiesel, and the city itself has very long tradition in glassmaking.
My exhibition Thread of Life is now over, many thanks to the gallery, Gumbostrand Konst & Form – and all who visited the show. Here are few pictures I took before dismantling the exhibition:
Let’s continue with the strange times we’re living the best that we can. I don’t have other exhibitions coming up in near future, but some projects and ideas are active in my mind.
Gumbostrand Konst & Form is presenting my exhibition from 13th of November onward – you’re warmly welcome!
Thread of Life is a collection of my newest work – you’ve never seen these before anywhere else. There are both illustrated vessels with imagery from my time in New York and engraved pieces with light feature. I’ve been working with these pieces for a good year now, and I really hope you will come and see them yourself.
Gumbostrand is located on the coastline between Helsinki and Porvoo, exact address: Vainuddintie 72-28, Söderkulla.
The exhibition extends to 17th of January, the gallery is mainly open Friday to Sunday, but for winter season 18.11.–20.12.2020 Wednesday to Sunday. Do check the exact opening times from gallery’s website konstoform.fi
Here are some photos from my previous hot shop session in Nuutajärvi. Many thanks to gaffers Jenni Sorsa and Matti Vilppula for the most productive day. Such a joy to see how ideas come to life and my drawings get transformed into glass sculptures.
These new pieces, quite a striking collection of them, will be on show at Gumbostrand Konst & Form, art center in Sipoo, Finland from 13th of November onward.
Here are some pics from this summer. I have been working on some new artworks after the spring’s lockdown. As you all I am still a bit worried how the fall will be like- but at the moment I am just so happy to be at work.
Also worth mentioning, many thanks for Arts Promotion Center Finland for supporting artists through the tough times. I lately received their grant for artistic work, meant for designers and artists whose work and income had been effected by the lockdown.
Ella Varvio 