PhotonArt – Ella Varvio

Transparent Language -exhibition 6-18.2025

June is full of glass happenings : Transparent Language -exhibition at Yö Galleria, Helsinki and Finnish Glass Biennale in Riihimäki, Iittala and Nuutajärvi.

Transparent Language, Yö Galleria, Helsinki 6-18.6.2025

The exhibition Transparent Language brings together five contemporary artists. Henriikka Pöllänen, Riikka Haapasaari, EGS, Aleksi Marjamaa, and Ella Varvio explore the conceptual and material potential of glass. Their methods, expressive languages, and backgrounds differ distinctly from one another.

Vernissage: Thursday, June 5, 2025, 6–9 PM

Yö Gallery
Lönnrotinkatu 33,
00180 Helsinki
Opening hours: Tue–Fri 2–7 PM, Sat–Sun 12–5 PM

Innovative Glass: From Science and Art to Sustainability

Seminar at the Finnish Glass Museum in Riihimäki 4.6.2025

The Finnish Glass Museum organizes glass themed seminar on Wednesday June 4. The seminar will explore current glass related topics in the fields of art, science and innovations. Yours truly will be speaking about PhotonArt -project and art-science collaboration. The seminar will be held in English and it has 11e participation fee.

THE FINNISH GLASS MUSEUM
Tehtaankatu 23
Opening hours 10 am–5 p

Link to the seminar program and pre-registration :

https://www.finnishglassbiennale.fi/en/seminar/seminar-innovative-glass/

The seminar is part of Finnish Glass Biennale – organized for the very first time. There are happenings in Nuutajärvi, Iittala and Riihimäki. So do check out the program.

Galleria Himmelblau 9.12.2023-4.2.2024

Update : the exhibition is extended until 4th of February, meet the artist event is held on Sunday 7th of Janury 1-3pm, welcome!

Invitation to the exhibition & opening reception : 9th of December 4-7pm

English version later :

Tervetuloa näyttelyyni Galleria Himmelblaulla 9.12.2023-7.1.2024!
Avajaisia vietetään lauantaina 9.12. klo 16-19.

Ella Varvio : Tuonpuoleisen värejä
Galleria Himmelblau, Finlaysoninkuja 9, Finlaysonin alue, Tampere
Galleria avoinna ke-pe 11-18, la-su 12-16. Suljettu ma, ti ja juhlapyhät.

Tuonpuoleisen värejä tuo Galleria Himmelblaun Puuvilla-saliin Ella Varvion tarinallista lasitaidetta. Teokset ovat saaneet innoituksensa vanhan kiinalaisen keramiikan väreistä ja uskomuksista. Lasiin on piirtynyt tuonpuoleisen ratsuja ja teosten valmistukseen on käytetty perinteisiä käsityötekniikoita kuten lasinpuhallusta ja kaiverrusta. Näyttelyssä on myös linkki uuteen lasitutkimukseen, sillä esillä on Tampereen yliopiston fotoniikan laboratorion kanssa toteutettua väritutkimusta. Fotoniikka eli valotiede tutkii lasia valona läpäisevänä aineena, monialaisessa PhotonArt hankkeessa selvitettiin kiinalaisen keramiikan lasitteiden värejä ja luotiin niiden pohjalta lasinpuhallukseen soveltuvia lasivärireseptejä.

Näyttelyä ja PhotonArt -hanketta on tukenut Suomen Kulttuurirahaston Pirkanmaan Rahasto.

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Welcome to my exhibition at Galleria Himmelblau 9.12.2023-7.1.2024! The vernissage is held on Saturday 9th of December at 4-7pm

Ella Varvio : Colours of the Afterlife. Galleria Himmelblau, Finlaysoninkuja 9, Finlayson historical district, Tampere, Finland

Gallery open Wed-Fri 11-18, Sat-Sun 12-16. Closed Mon-Tue and on public holidays. Free admission.

Colours of the Afterlife brings Ella Varvio’s glass art to Galleria Himmelblau. The artworks are inspired by colours and subjects of ancient Chinese ceramics. Varvio’s imagery is often narrative and her art pieces are made using traditional craft techniques such as glassblowing and engraving. Moreover the exhibition has a link to new glass research as there is a section about colour research conducted together with Tampere University Photonics Laboratory. Photonics is the science of light and it studies glass as a material that transmits light. In the multidisciplinary PhotonArt project colours of old Chinese glazes were analyzed to create new glass materials.

The exhibition and PhotonArt project is supported by Finnish Cultural Trust Pirkanmaa Regional Funds

Colour frenzy

Glowing hot neodymium purple glass in Nuutajärvi

This summer our PhotonArt project proceeded to the actual melting and blowing of coloured glasses. For this I had rented the Lasikomppania glass studio in Nuutajärvi and I was full of nervous excitement. Making glass is expensive and you’re never fully certain of the outcomes… Luckily all went very well!

Samples of PhotonArt -project’s coloured glasses for glassblowing

The colour recipes were designed by Tampere University Photonics Laboratory as part of PhotonArt -project that combines art and science. Our project leader Dr. Laeticia Petit is the professor of photonic glasses at Tampere University and her team researches glass as a tool to transport light. Photonic glasses have applications in optical fibers, lasers, optical amplifiers, multicolor displayers, just to cite a few.

In the PhotonArt project we have investigated colours of glass and glazes both from artists and scientists point of view. The project is supported by Finnish Cultural Trust Pirkanmaa Regional Funds.

Hectic work in Lasikomppania studio, glassblowers Samuli Parkkinen and Jenni Sorsa in action

All the colours turned out super nice and were suitable for glassblowing. The days at the studio were hectic and hard work as we produced new artworks. Many thanks to my gaffers and studio staff : Jenni Sorsa, Samuli Parkkinen and Alge Julija.

Some of the shapes are inspired by ancient Chinese vessels and vases. These new artworks are not yet ready as they need coldworking and engraving. I’m however, already very pleased with how they turned out.

The final results can be seen in Tampere at the end of this year. Stay tuned, still some months to go but lots to do!

Galleria Himmelblau, Tampere, Finland 9.12.2023-7.1.2024

Welcome to the new age of glass – exhibition and talk at Institut français de Finlande

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!

More info and registration to the event :

Welcome to the new age of glass