FRESH Contemporary glass from Finland exhibition was held in Bel Air Fine Art gallery, in Dorsoduro, during the Venice Glass Week 2021. The FRESH project aims to crystalize what Finnish glass is today. This was my third time at the event. In the previous

Epic voyage. This expression comes across often, when people describe FRESH Finland’s Venice Glass Week project to us. And it truly was a memorable journey indeed. I started FRESH Finland last winter because I hoped to open a dialogue, locally and globally, between glass people. I believe that it’s meaningful for independent artists to work together in a real, concrete way. Especially in the midst of the pandemics it’s time to start fresh. 

The exhibition travelled to Venice by a van. Olli from Fixupaku drove the glass all the way from Helsinki. The Fresh Finland exhibition was loaded on a boat and sailed across the busy canals! Transporting art requires special knowhow and planning.
The exhibition for the glass week gathered eight glass artists together. Each of the group has a unique expression. The project also represented four Finnish glass studios, that create high quality sculptural glass: Mafka&Alakoski, Lasismi, Lasikomppania and Hytti. In the picture there are my artworks that express, how our own perspective alters the way we look at a person. Behind there are artworks by Helmi Remes, Anna Schroderus and Marja Hepo-aho.
Camilla Moberg setting up the Messengers in Glass artworks.

The exhibition was held in Bel Air Fine Art. Choosing an international contemporary art gallery as the space was a conscious choice, a statement for the relationship between blown glass and contemporary art. It’s important to see studio made, sculptural pieces in this sort of location and international events. The aim of the project is to create collaborations that last. I must say that focal point of the FRESH Finland is in the future. 

It is a great honor to have glass demo’s in Berengo studio. The piece by Sini Majuri and Marja Hepo-aho is now also part of the Berengo Studio’s collection.

FRESH had multiple glass demo’s in Murano: in Berengo Glass Studio as well as in Wave Murano Glass. It was truly touching how people in the studios warmly welcomed our Finnish group and took such good care of us! Blown glass is a living heritage that is in a state of constant reinvention. Therefore demo’s are a way to open the hidden world behind the art. It is also a human way to communicate with glass makers and studios. All the demo’s and lectures were live-streamed via Instagram. While having an adventure in Murano, we were delighted to also visit Museo del Vetro.

Glass blowing demonstrations in Berengo Studio were communicated via Instagram live shows. The demo’s can now be seen from FRESH Finland’s IGTV.
Unique sculpture by Sini Majuri and Marja Hepo-aho is now in the Museo del Vetro’s collection. The most important part of the project is the actual, face to face communication and future planning. The sculpture was created in the Venice Glass Week live held in Riihimäki before the journey to Venice.

FRESH Finland’s core is in the collaboration. In The Venice Glass Week there were both artists with decades of experience as well as professionals that just recently have started their career; in total eight artists that each have their unique recognizable style and expression. It is meaningful to be able to work together in this rare way. It is interesting to see what the future holds! At the moment the FRESH group is starting to plan exhibitions and continuing the philosophy of the project; working together, thinking fresh, expressign fresh.

Paula Pääkkönen created a sculpture in Berengo Studio.
The glass demo’s are the soul of the project, because in the studio, the glass is alive. Marja Hepo-aho, Paula Pääkkönen and Sini Majuri hosted multiple demo’s in the studios in Murano. It is a rare opportunity to connect in this special way – and to be welcomed in these magical places that are often hidden from the public.
There are eight glass artists in the first FRESH Finland exhibition: Sini Majuri, Marja Hepo-aho, Anu Penttinen, Anna Schroderus, Camilla Moberg, Paula Pääkkönen. Helmi Remes, Anna-Kaisa Kukkonen-Madi. In the picture the group celebrates the opening gala of the Glass Week.
It was delightful also meet Laura from A’Design Award and receiwe the winner book from my designs. It’s interesting to open a discussion about the role of the studio glass in international Design Awards. We should definitely see it as a category.

My work Technicolor mixes blown glass and fish skin. It expresses femininity in classic movies. It is also a combination of three rare craftsmanships: blacksmith, cobbler and a glass blower works.
During the Venice Glass Week was a great honor to also take part into discussion panel about Future innovations about glass art. You can see the panel from glass weeks youtube channel. Sini Majuri’s works were also in the Venice Glass Week HUB exhibition in Palazzo Loredan.