Infinity Vessel boldly steps onto the catwalk at New York Fashion Week on September 2023. The Flying Solo fashion show, which is held annually on the roof top surrounded by skyscrapers, gathers a global coverage of current fashion. Infinity vessel is exhibiting an eight-piece collection of wearable glass sculptures, such as crowns that explore femininity and the state of society. Glass crowns can be made-to-order from the master craftsmen of the Infinity Vessel project.
The Flying Solo show is one of the most cutting-edge fashion events during New York Fashion Week presenting a wide array of womenswear, menswear and accessories. Every season, Flying Solo discovers new talented independent designers from across the globe. The show has been featured in Fashionista, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Vogue, Marie Claire, Nylon, and Harper’s Bazaar.
Glass crowns exshibited in the NY Fashion Week Flying Solo catwalk show are handmade in FinlandScandinavian design crowns are made-to-measure pieces
When a machine looks back at us, what does it see? Join us on February 1 – 2.2023 at the Suomenlinna sea Fortress in Helsinki to see how dance artist Mira Ollila interprets the shades of humanity while dancing with Boston Dynamics Spot robot. Roboballet is a new chapter in the Infinity Vessel series by glass artists Sini Majuri and Marja Hepo-aho, where contemporary glass is intertwined with dance and technology. THE ROBOBALLET SHOWS ARE FULL.
Dive into the interactive hologram piece and sculpture exhibition which will spread out in Tenalji von Fersen hall. Exhibition will be open for two days: February 1 – 2. The intensive ten minute dance performances are held at regular intervals. The exhibition and show are open and free to the public.
The ballet’s music is composed by Petri Pulkkinen and Janne Jääskö the holoprojections and interactive art of the work are produced by Craneworks Oy. The choreocraphy of the dance is by Heidi Lehtoranta and Mira Ollila. Robotics has been implemented in collaboration with Aalto University’s robotics department.
THE ROBOBALLET SHOWS ARE FULL.
The exhibition space is located on the upper floor, which is accessed by stairs. Those who need a lift are asked to register in advance so that we can arrange staff to help.
Mira Ollila dances with a Boston Dynamics Spot in the Roboballet
In Finnish
Kun robotti katsoo meitä, mitä se näkee? Tanssitaiteilija Mira Ollila tulkitsee ihmisyyden sävyjä tanssiessaan Aalto Yliopiston robotiikan laitoksen ohjelmoiman Spot-robotin kanssa. Teos on osa lasitaiteilija Sini Majurin ja Marja Hepo-ahon Infinity Vessel-kokonaisuutta, jossa klassiset taiteen alat sekoittuvat nykyteknologiaan. Interaktiivisen teoksen musiikin ovat säveltäneet Petri Pulkkinen ja Janne Jääskö. Teoksessa laulaa Hanna Wendelin. Craneworks Oy vastaa kokonaisuuden holoprojisiosta.
Tanssiteos kestää 10 minuuttia (järjestetään tasatunnein) ja on osa Tenalji von Fersenin saliin levittäytyvää veistosnäyttelyä, jossa hologrammi taide yhdistyy klassiseen lasiin ja ihmisten ilmeisiin keinoälyn välityksellä reagoivaa musiikkimaisemaa.
Esteettömyys: Näyttely sijaitsee Tenalji Von Fersenin salissa, jonne on käynti portaita myöten. Hissiä tarvitservia pyydetään ilmoittautumaan etukäteen, jotta voimme ohjeistaa rakennuksen sivustalla sijaitsevan hissin käytössä.
Communication installation by glass artists Sini Majuri and Marja Hepo-aho was exhibited at The Italian Glass Week’s HUB exhibition arranged in the Palazzo Loredan in Venice on 17 – 25 September 2022. The exhibition consisted of design objects by Majuri and Hepo-aho. The deeper message of the installation was to evoke discussion about the state of the contemporary glass and the artist’s responsibility as a reflector of time. The HUB installation is connected to Infinity Vessel production which was not accepted in the glass week’s program. How ever the rejected project mirroring the state of the society was welcomed to the Berengo Studio in Murano. Read an article about the exhibition at Savon Sanomat Newspaper.
In Finnish mythology and culture a swamp has a strong meaning. It is an intermediate space between water and earth, the present and the hereafter. It is where unwanted babies and misfits of the society were drowned to. In the Communication production the swamp represents the taboos of the society as well as glass field. Photo: Juha-Matti Vahdersalo
Artists gave a lecture in the Hotel Saturnia to open the unique challenges and characteristics of the field from the perspective of Finnish and international glass. Glass artists are often asked to exhibit safe, beautiful, Scandinavian objects – as the contemporary glass, which deals with society’s taboos, is in a challenging situation in front of financiers and industry institutions. These actors define the field and what kind of art is accepted.
The images by photographer Juha-Matti Vahdersalo mirror the theme of the Communication and Infinity Vessel productions – how artist must take the responsibility to highlight the taboos of the time. Scandinavian design objects rise up from the swamp – as the topics that are not to be talked about. The United Nations International Year of Glass 2022 has a significant meaning, as the endangered craftmanship is also being arranged to the Unesco’s World heritage listing. Paradox – Noa Milo is a part of theInfinity Vessel project exhibited in Murano. Glass vessel can be seen as a womb, a surface between an individual and the society. Fetus is the potential and hope sheltered by the insubstantial skin. Artists are using ornaments from Finnish and Ukrainian tradition. Golden hand painted pine needle is a symbol of bravery as the serpent is a protecting element. Bronze cast: Arto Hyyryläinen. Glass blower: Kari Alakoski. Photographer: Francesco Barasciutti, Venice 2022
The Communication project is connected to the Infinity Vessel production that opened in Berengo Studio in September 17th 2022 – outside the official glass week program. The triptych with an exhibition, show and a treasure hunt combine glass with multiple innovative technologies. Augmented reality and holographic art are mixed with glass that reflects the lovelessess in society; what happens to an individual when humanity and emotions are disconnected from the surrounding community. The project started when the artists decided to comment on the War in Ukraine, pandemics as well as the women’s rights.
The live glass blowing show in Berengo Studio had Teemu Nurmelin from Finnish National Theater as the visual designer. The starting point of the show is to contemplate the glassblowing demo as its own unrecognized art form. In the article of Savon Sanomat newspaper it is written, that “the experience of the glass show turned out to be powerful on many levels. A strong sense of trust was created between the audience and the artists when the hot glass mass revealed the details of the work as part of the storytelling. Some of the audience wanted to share their feelings after the show, some even cried”.
The Infinity Vessel project has more than 20 professional from different fields of technology and art in the production team. The holographic projection is by Craneworks Oy. The Infinity Vessel production is supported by Asko Foundation.
The third part of the triptych, a hunt of valuable glass artifacts hidden through the city of Venice and Murano island as a real life adventure. Visitors were encouraged to seek out sculptures and discuss the topics of the project on social media. In the treasure hunt, artists wanted to shake off the stigma of elitism from glass art, so they offered thousands of euros worth of unique glass to the public on the principle of “the finder gets to keep”.
Infinity Vessel contemporary art project pushes the limits of the ancient art of glass. A documentary about the birth and reception of the Infinity Vessel is also being made, directed by Ditte Uljas. The project is part of Corning Museum of Glass’s collection in New York.
The next Infinity Vessel show will be arranged in Detroit 2023 as the movie will be premiered in the Glass Art Society’s annual conference. The Noa Milo sculpture is also exhibited at Art Miami at the Berengo Studio’s booth in November 2022.
Sini Majuri is the founder of a project that takes Finnish glass to The Venice Glass Week in September 2021. FRESH – Contemporary Glass From Finland presents eight glass professionals; artists with decades of experience as well as new talents. Each with a unique, recognizable style in using glass as a medium for their artistic expression. The FRESH exhibition at the Bel Air Fine Art gallery will take place from 4 to 12 September 2021. The unique works of art included provide an exquisite cross-sectional view to contemporary studio glass from Finland. The FRESH team also arranges multiple glass demo’s in Berengo and Wave Studio in Murano as well as lectures during the glass week.
The artists of the FRESH team are: Camilla Moberg, Sini Majuri, Marja Hepo-aho, Anna Schroderus, Helmi Remes, Anna-Kaisa Kukkonen-Madi, Paula Pääkkönen and Anu Penttinen
FRESH – Contemporary Glass From Finland exhibition presents a harmonious aesthetic of the North, which meets a delicious use of materials and weightless expression. Created in the artists’ studios, the works have been born of universal themes such as time, memories, emotions and nature. At the same time, they convey a laid-back and happy, playful even, approach to glass as a traditional artistic material. The artists all share a passion of producing high-quality Finnish studio glass objects, inspired by a fresh and bold new approach. The exhibition is an aesthetic and fragile, yet abundant and open-minded ensemble that complements the overall program of the Venice Glass Week.
FRESH is quality of expression. FRESH represents new contemporary glass art from Finland. The works have been made in well-known Finnish studios: Mafka&Alakoski, Lasismi, Glass Studio Hytti and Lasikomppania Glass Cooperative. The FRESH group also arranges multiple demonstrations, lectures and online events during the glass week.
My sculpture Antimatter will be exhibited at the glass week.The Cell-series will be both in Bel Air Fine art as well as in The Venice Glass Week HUB in Palazzo FranchettiThe Venice Glass Week is the international festival that the city of Venice dedicates to the art of glass, with a programme that includes exhibitions, demonstrations, guided tours, online events and more. The fifth edition will take place from 4th to 12th September 2021.
EVENTS
Exhibition opening. Bel Air Fine Art. September 4th at 17 PM
FRESH – Contemporary Glass From Finland exhibition. Bel Air Fine Art, Dorsoduro. Dorsoduro, 728 – Dorsoduro I-30123 Venice. From September 4 to September 12
Demo in Wave Studio, Murano: Sini Majuri, Marja Hepo-aho, Paula Pääkkönen. September 4th. From 10-00 AM – 14.00 PM. Wave Murano Glass Srl – Ramo da Mula 5/1 – Murano
Lecture: Graal: Visual Poetry. Sini Majuri. September 5th. From 13 PM to 14 PM. Hotel Saturnia International, Conference room.
Lecture: Marja Hepo-aho. September 5th 2021. 14.00 PM to 15.00 PM. Hotel Saturnia International, Conference room
Demo in Berengo Studio: Sini Majuri. Etiäinen. Berengo Studio. Murano. September 6. From 15 PM to 16 PM. Berengo Studio, Fondamenta dei Vetrai 109/a, 30141, Murano, Venice
Demo in Berengo Studio: Marja Hepo-aho. Eternal and fragile. Berengo Studio. Murano. September 6. From 16 PM to 17 PM. Berengo Studio, Fondamenta dei Vetrai 109/a, 30141, Murano, Venice
Demo in Berengo Studio: Paula Pääkkönen. Delicious delicacies. Berengo Studio. Murano. September 6. From 17 PM to 18 PM. Berengo Studio, Fondamenta dei Vetrai 109/a, 30141, Murano, Venice
Guided tour FRESH – Contemporary Glass from Finland September 7thFrom 14 PM to 15 PMBel Air Fine Art, Dorsoduro
My exhibition Etiäinen reflects the beliefs and customs related to visiting traditions in Northern Savonia, mixing these with the pandemic experience. The dreamlike works are created from mouth-blown glass in Riihimäki, Suomenlinna and Nuutajärvi. Etiäinen, which premieres in the Kellarikalleria art gallery in Suonenjoki, is supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation. Join the Virtual 360 exhibition by Rautalampilehti from here.
Cell-series. Join the virtual exhibition by clicking the image above. Pic by: Markku Leskinen, RautalampilehtiOrinnoro series. Pic: Tuire Punkki, Savon Sanomat. Click the image above to read the entire article from the Savon Sanomat newspaper.
The exhibition also highlights the cooperation in the field of Finnish studio made glass. I have worked with Kari Alakoski and Marja Hepo-aho from Riihimäki for years now. They specialize in the creation of massive sculptural glass. For example the voluminous Cell and Orinnoro series are blown by these master glass blowers. The Miekkavesi sculpture also has a special mixture of two very different mediums: fish skin and blown glass. Designer and cobbler Tytti Porvari from Mikkeli has made a fish skin belt for the glass sculpture. There are also multiple layered graal sculptures blown by me in Lasistudio Hytti ry, in Suomenlinna island. The exhibition venue, Kellarikalleria also has a special role in my journey as an artist. It is the very firs place I have seen art as a child.
The Mayor of the town of Suonenjoki, Juha Piiroinen opened the exhibition in Kellarikalleria gallery. Pic by Olli Kokander.Tytti Porvari finishing the Miekkavesi sculpture that combines blown glass and fish skin belt. Pic by Jari IkonenSee a video from the exhibition by YLE by clicking the image above. Pic: Marianne Mattila, YLE
I have collected material for the exhibition through newspaper ads as well as local social media, asking what sort of customs people have in their family. For example, coffee drinking has a rich tradition. It is very precise which cup is offered to the guest or how when after the invitation it is appropriate to go to the coffee table. Also, if the spoon, a knife or a fork falls to the floor it can predict weddings, male or female guests.
In some families, Grandma knew to make coffee before the guests arrived because she had Etiäinen. The footsteps walked inside and sat in the living room for coffee. The quest soon walked in. Etiäinen, the name of the exhibition means an impression of a person, that walks before us, doing everything we are about to do before us. It’s in a way a living shadow of a person.
One important story in the exhibition is by a 17 years old woman that was planning a small wedding party with her sister during the first months of the Pandemic. She wondered if soap bubbles can spread the virus; How something innocent and beautiful can become frightening. This theme is mirrored in the Cell-sculptures of the exhibition.
Kahvi-sculpture mirrors the coffee drinking traditions, etiäinen-omens and pandemic experience as a dream like scene. Pic: Tuire Punkki, Savon Sanomat. Read the article from the link
The exhibition is open in Kellarikalleria, Suonenjoki 2 – 24.6.2021. After this it will continue to Gumbostrand Konst&Form in Sipoo and Art Museum Eemil in Lapinlahti.
I‘m overwhelmed and thankful for being awarded with four A’Design Awards from Italy! The Bumpy vase that I designed for DutZ Collection won a Silver award. Flow and Icy collections that were both blown at the wonderful Mafka&Alakoski glass studio in Riihimäki also got Silver awards. What a silver lining for this strange year, indeed! And the Cassiopeia Sculpture that was exhibited in Venice Glass Week HUB got a Bronze award.
Thank you for my great team for all the support over the years, and thank you DutZ for the delightful design project again! It’s always so lovely to work together, making designs that are more than just mere interior objects. The studio made glass has such a unique charisma and soul that I wish that I manage to reflect in my design.
The international Festival dedicated to the art of glass presents its fourth edition: #TheHeartOfGlass, which will take place around Venice, Murano and Mestre from 5th to 13th September 2020. This year’s event place a special focus on the “making” of glass, with the aim of helping to support and relaunch the Murano glass industry. Alongside events including exhibitions, demonstrations and guided tours, the Festival will offer a programme of online initiatives, in order to sustain links with international audiences.
My sculpture is inspired by the microscopic world and how something invisibly small can change the World. Photo by Massimo PistoreThe Floating Furnace, a travelling programme of demonstrations with different stops around the Lagoon. The Venice Glass Week places a special focus on the production of glass, and aims to help relaunch and revitalise the sector – primarily that of Murano – which has faced extreme difficulties as a result of months of closure due to Covid19. The aim is to (re)ignite the passion for the ancient art of glass amongst citizens of Murano, Venice, the Veneto and Italy, and to reach this audience The Venice Glass Week is going to extreme lengths: it is bringing the art of glassmaking out of the furnaces to meet the city’s residents and visitors. Photo: Nexa -Event & Travel Designers, Photographer Federica Lazzarini. For the first time the Festival has a “title-hashtag”: #TheHeartOfGlass, placing a special focus on the production of glass, and aiming to help relaunch and revitalise the sector – primarily that of Murano – which has faced extreme difficulties as a result of months of closure due to Covid-19.
I’m honored to exhibit my glass installation in The Venice Glass Week HUB in September. Cassiopeia reflects Scandinavian aesthetics and light through organic surfaces. Each sculpture is made from mouth blown studio glass and shaped by hand. The design philosophy behind the ‘Cassiopeia’ is to create poetic interpretation of the weightless yet strong nature of glass. How it allows to see to the deepness of the Universe though the lenses of telescope and into the smallest details of life in the microscopic world.
The theme in 2020 is “The Heart of Glass”. The festival is promoted by the Town Council of Venice and conceived by three of Venice’s principal cultural institutions with considerable experience and expertise in the field of glass – Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, Fondazione Giorgio Cini – LE STANZE DEL VETRO and Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti – along with the most important trade association, the Consorzio Promovetro Murano, which also manages the Vetro Artistico® Murano trademark of the Veneto Region. Once again in 2020 The Venice Glass Week has been officially designated by the Regione del Veneto.
Address: The Venice Glass Week Hub Palazzo Loredan sede dell’Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti San Marco 2945 30124 Venice Italy
Exhibition open to the public: 5th – 13th September 2020 (10am to 6pm)
In line with the strict regulations prescribed by the Italian national health authority in relation to Covid-19, a limited number of visitors will be allowed into the building at one time. All visitors will be required to wear masks.
1000 Vases exhibition in Dubai was a cascade of design. Thousand vases at the modernistic atrium space all had their clever details, contemporary twists and interesting use of mediums. Being invited to the international design event was one of the highlights of my spring time.
My green Rainforest glass vases were premiered in the exhibition. Despite so many vases in the show, the set up was fresh and elegant. Each and every one of the objects had their place to shine. Picture @nateleecocksI really enjoyed the opening day. Meeting all the artists and designers was inspiring – let alone the great exhibition team that worked miracles helping with all the last minute hustle. Picture @nateleecocksThe technique used in the green Rainforest vases is steam stick. It’s one of the iconic techniques from the golden era of Finnish glass design. I enjoyed seeing the vases side by side and contrasting with modern Tube vases by Fabio Meliota. Picture @nateleecocksThe 1000 Vases exhibition was also honored to welcome the Sheikh of Bahrain. The Abu Dhabi TV also visited the show. Picture credit 1000 Vases.All the guests got fresh hyacinth flowers to take home. Such a lovely idea!Flowers were also a important part of the set up. After all: vase and a flower have a long history together. Though many of the exhibition pieces can also be seen as sculptures, there is always the throwback of usable object when we look at a vase.My glass series is blown in the glass town of Riihimäki, in Mafka & Alakoski glass studio. Pieces are shaped by hand, signed and numbered.The venue was located in Dubai Design District. The area is full of galleries, design folks and creative companies. The 1000 Vases exhibition was created in collaboration with Meet My Project and TAM. Picture @nateleecocksDuring my visit to Dubai I was happy to also be invited to VIP opening of the Art Dubai fair’s main event. The Madinat Jumeirah with water canals and palace-like buildings was very different with all the dull congress centres I have usually seen here in Europe. Art Dubai 2019 presented more than 90 galleries from 40 different countries. Contemporary, Modern, Residents as well as the inaugural edition of Bawwaba. It was great to meet so many interesting connections for the future collaborations. Picture credit Päivi LavikainenWhen we had some quiet time inbetween the exhibition events, it was also interesting to see the unique nature around the Dubai area. The silence of the desert was very contrasting with the city life. I took some pictures of my Vuoksi glasses in this magical surrounding!The most inspirational location was the town of Al Madam, the ‘Buried Village‘ lost in sand.
H.E. Gabriele Altana, the ambassador of Italy in Finland opened the Dreams exhibition in Gallery Pictor, where my glass is exhibited together with the ceramic art of Heini Riitahuhta.
It was a fun coincidence that Italy has been an important part of my year. There was a golden award from Italian A’Design Award and invitation to Venice glass Week. In 2020 I’ll also exhibit some new works in Milan Design Week. So maybe fate is trying to get me to stay in Italy.
The beautiful gallery space used to be a fire station and they still had the original fire truck door and large windows. It was great to meet many friendly people at the event and open the stories behind the glass sculptures. The first pieces from the Deserted town series were premiered in the Dreams exhibition. It is a story about subconsciousness and dream logic – a optical riddle that hide details that can only be seen from exactly right angle. Gemini graal piece has multiple layers with houses and trees. It’s about finding ones soulmate. On the wall you can see Heini’s ceramic piece.This artwork by Heini Riitahuhta was specially created for the exhibition in Gallery Pictor. It was a great joy to see my glass next to Heini’s wonderful ceramic art pieces. Heini’s art is full of color and interesting technique twists. This piece was my favorite, because there is something very hypnotic about it.Roller coaster sculpture was blown in Riihimäki. There is intensive dark blue color behind the soda bubbles. When the sculpture is illuminated from the right angle, the shadow has a surprising hue. The sculpture is solid glass.Earlier version of the icebergs was also exhibited in Venice. Glacier is a icy landscape that mirrors the nordic mood.Hedge Maze graal piece has multiple image layers with lots of hidden details. On the reverse side, the images are dark blue, like a shadows of a forest.
Thank you all for the fun opening! The exhibition is open till 7.12.2019. So there is still time to visit and dream along!
Jungle Glass Vase is Golden Design Award winner in 2018 – 2019 Furniture, Decorative Items and Homeware Design Award Category in the international A’Design Award in Italy.
A’ Design Award and Competition is the worlds’ largest design competition awarding best designs, design concepts and products & services. The motto of the A’ Design Awards is “Ars Futura Cultura” i.e. Arts Cultivate the Future, Arts for the Culture of Future. The future is shaped by arts, design and technology, thus there is need of good design for a better future.
Inspired by nature, the premise of the Jungle glass collection is to create objects that gain their value from the quality, design and material. Simple shapes reflect the serenity of the medium, while being weightless and strong at the same time. Vases are mouth-blown and shaped by hand, signed and numbered. The rhythm of the glass making process ensures that each object in the Jungle Collection has a unique colour play that mimics the movement of waves.In a world where there are millions of products and designs launch each year, the award was born out of the desire to underline the best designs and well designed products. The award-winning products and designs are highlighted to the international public via the A’ Design Award Gala-Night and Exhibition in Italy and they are communicated to all relevant press across the world.
Contemporary Glass 
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