Taide – 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.

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

Sculpting with fire

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.

Bárdudvarnok

Sulholla on suden hampaat 2017 – made in symposium in Bardudvarnok, Hungary

Few pictures from the glass studio – Nemzetközi Üveg Alkotótelep – in Bárdudvarnok, Hungary. Last week was very intensive, many thanks for the organizers, participants and glassblower-artist James Carcass for helping to realize new Graals. The artworks by me and Laura Aalto-Setälä will exhibited at Bor és kézműves -gallery in Budapest during Finnish festival on 22-24.9.

And this Sunday, 27.8. there is Designtori in Tampere. Some glass art can be found at Galleria Rajatila’s exhibition at the fair in Tullikamari 11am-6pm. Welcome!

Afterglow

Nemeton– glass art exhibition ended last week in Helsinki, time to take a deep breath before new challenges! Here’s a short video from the glass studio: making of Queen of Vipers -unique Graal glass piece. Glassblowers Kari Alakoski and Marja Hepo-aho are sculpting my design at their studio in Riihimäki. Video by Ammi Lahtinen/Galleria Mafka&Alakoski.

My most sincere thanks to all support for this exhibition project: many thanks to Galleria Mafka&Alakoski for the opportunity to have a solo exhibition in Helsinki, lots of thanks to glassblowers Marja and Kari, carpenters, suppliers, national railroads, parents for lending me the car… and for Arts Promotion Centre Finland for supporting the making of the glass artworks…

And many thanks for all who visited the exhibition! Hope to see you in other exhibitions and venues – for example on 7.5. I’ll be attending Designtori, Tampere with Rajataide -organization of Tampere based artists.