scandinavian design – Contemporary Glass

16/04/202326/04/2023

Exhibition in G12, Helsinki

lasitaide lasiveistos nykytaide — Snake-shaped chandeliers that weep tears, symbolize the complexities and struggles of domestic life. Snake is a symbol of rebirth and transformation, and a metaphor for the primal, animalistic urges that lie dormant within us. In many cultures, snakes are seen as both symbols of healing and destruction.

Homes are more than mere structures that we inhabit. For they serve as reflections of our innermost thoughts, emotions, and concealed identities. Sini Majuri’s latest sculpture series delves into the non-physical dimensions of our existence.

Sini Majuri’s glass exhibition is open in G12 Gallery in Helsinki from April 22 till May 11, 2023. Pieces blend the tangible and intangible, the old and new, and the handmade and digital. By blurring the lines between art and science, Majuri hopes to capture the ever-evolving nature of art and the human experience – and challenge viewers to consider is it possible that technology could unlock new depths of creativity – Or will it ultimately lead to a loss of authenticity and soul?

The glass sculptures portray layers of feminine countenances of the human psyche. By toying with ugliness and beauty, these works invite to think about the intricate nature of human perception and the multifaceted dimensions of aesthetics. Similarly, the image of a woman with layered faces represent the different roles that women play in society, as well as the complex nature of femininity itself.

Majuri’s work portrays homes as both a sanctuary of comfort and a site of trauma, using symbols like the weeping serpent and layered women to represent the nature of our subconscious. Glass, with its transparency and fragility is a metaphor for the human mind, which is complex and multifaceted. We may curate our homes to reflect a certain image or ideal, but behind closed doors, there may be hidden struggles and complexities that we keep hidden away from view. Antimatter series is showcasing both the light and the dark aspects of domestic life. While Finland ranks as the happiest country in the world, domestic violence remains a significant problem. The transparency of glass reminds us that what we see on the surface may not always be the full story.

lasinpuhallus lasitaide nykytaide veistos — Antimatter series mirror the theme of Homes, how they are the vessels of our being, the repositories of our memories, for they are more than mere structures that we inhabit. Sculptures also offer a reminder that healing and growth are possible, even in the face of trauma and adversity

Glass as a medium highlights the idea of transparency and the power of seeing through barriers. In the same way that glass reveals what lies beneath its surface – sculptures invite viewers to explore the hidden layers of our own consciousness and the stories that we often keep concealed. Transparency underscores the importance of vulnerability and honesty in our relationships, both with ourselves and with others. Glass is a material that is both fragile and strong, transparent and reflective. These qualities are a metaphor for the contradictions and paradoxes that we encounter in our lives.

Sini Majuri’s Artist Meet 4.5 at 12.00 in G12 Gallery, Annankatu 16.

Listen Sini Majuri’s interview in Radio Helsinki from here.

Images by Juha-Matti Vahdersalo

15/07/202118/08/2021

FRESH- Contemporary Glass From Finland, Venice Glass Week

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 Franchetti

The 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

ONLINE: LIVE From Riihimäki
20th August 18.00 PM (Venice time), 19.00 Finnish time
https://youtu.be/rQOzEbVU_cY

ONLINE: Live From Nuutajärvi
26th August15.00 PM (Venice time)

06/05/202106/05/2021

Four design Awards from Italy

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.

12/03/202122/04/2021

Bumpy for DutZ Collection

Sini Majuri designs a collection of glass vessels for DutZ Collection. Bumpy vases are created in blue, gold and grey color. The collection is awarded with a Silver A’Design Award from Italy in 2021.

Collection plays with contrasts. High quality meet rough glass shards that look as ornaments when placed on the rim of the vessel. Calm Scandinavian color palette brings harmony to the studio made vases that are inspired by the textures of melting ice. The concept of the design is to flirt with organic shapes and poetic glass medium.

The collection is inspired by the melting ice. The icy texture in every vessel has it’s special charisma.

The shape of the vessel is oval. Every piece is mouth blown and shaped by hand.

Bumpy vases are mouth blown and shaped by hand.

Bumpy vase finds its place on the windowsill, side table or as a gorgeous centre-piece on the dining table. This model is suitable for just one flower branch, but it is also beautiful with nothing at all in it. Unique Bumpy vase fits well in every interior.

04/02/202111/03/2021

Flow collection brings 3D perspective into abstract brush strokes

The Flow edition gains inspiration from the elegance of the movement of liquid glass that is frozen into a stasis that is fragile yet forever. The rhythm of the glass making process ensures that every vessel has unique splashes of color that mimic the dance of brush strokes of abstract impression. Every vase has their own breath. It’s a methaphor for a soul of a piece that makes it more than mere interior object. Flow is a 3th edition of Sini Majuri’s Jungle series that has been awarded with a Golden and Silver A’Design Award.

The Flow is a 3th edition of Sini Majuri’s Jungle Collection. Every vase has it’s own color play inside a thick glass.

Every vessel is studio made in Finland and shaped by hand.

Flow collection mixes Scandinavian cool with capricious Finnish glass blowing techniques that allow color flow freely within the glass layers. Collection has three shapes and the design is available in green, blue and purple. Studio made vases are signed by hand and numbered.

A simplified shape can become multi-dimensional in glass medium; There is the visual layer of glass: how does the glass reflect, how will the colors look in different light. Above all there are also the historical layers of glass, the origin of Finnish glass making and the rare knowledge behind the craftsmanship.

Inquiries of the Flow Collection via email. Manufacturing time of orders with more than 10 objects is 2 weeks. For international orders, please ask for a quote with shipping fee.

Flow Collection is made in wide (20 cm tall), small (9 cm tall) and tall (23 cm tall) shape.

The process of the Flow Collection ensures that every vase has a unique color play inside the hand shaped glass. Made in Mafka&Alakoski studio, Riihimäki, Finland.

07/05/202007/05/2020

Sini Majuri wins three A’ Design Awards from Italy

A’ Design Award and Competition is the worlds’ largest design competition awarding best designs, design concepts and products & services. Image by A design Award.

Sini Majuri has been honored with two renowned Silver A’ Design Awards and one Iron Award. The Rainforest glass series won the Silver from Furniture, Decorative Items and Homeware Design Competition. Also Majuri’s work Iceberg won a Silver Award at Arts, Crafts and Ready-Made Design Competition Category. The Iron award was given to Majuri’s Spike lamp design at Lighting Products and Lighting Projects Design Competition Category.

The collection aims to create vases that have unusually thick glass as their material. The space for inner part of the vase is minimized. Almost hidden. This makes the vases appear voluminous, yet light.

The Rainforest vases are a mixture of 3D designed shapes and traditional Scandinavian steamstick technique. The hand shaped pieces have extremely thick glass with weightlessly floating splashes of color. The studiomade collection is inspired by the contrasts of nature, and how it creates harmony.

The A’ Design Competition is organized annually in Como, Italy. Image by A’Design Award.

The Silver A’ Design Award is a prestigious award given to top 5% percentile designs that has achieved an exemplary level of originality in design. Entries to the A’ Furniture Design Awards are peer reviewed and anonymously judged by an expert jury panel of prominent academics, important press members and experienced professionals. Nominated furniture designs are voted on pre-determined evaluation criteria to highlight only the leading furniture design works.

Icebergs are interior sculptures. By connecting mountains, it is possible to build mountain ranges, mental landscapes made of glass. The surface of each recycled glass object is unique. Thus, each object has a unique character, a soul. Sculptures are handshaped, signed and numbered in Finland. The main philosophy behind the Iceberg sculptures is to reflect the climate change.

Spike lamp plays with contrasts. It is inspired by punk culture and calm Scandinavian mood. It is a voluminous piece, with warm light that is focused into a small pointy area under the piece. The Spike lamp has a aggressive appearance because of the metal spikes pointing towards the viewer. At the same time there is something calm about the smoothness of the ceramic surface and warm light. The lamp creates tension in a interior. Like an individual from a subculture.

The object is made in a two sided plaster mold by JP Studiokeramiikka. The outer surface of the ceramic object is spray glazed. The light is a dimmable LED. The diameter of the ceramic part is 350 mm x 320 mm. With the spikes the diameter of the lamp is 450 mm x 370 mm.

The Spike lamp has a aggressive appearance because of the metal spikes pointing towards the viewer. At the same time there is something calm about the smoothness of the ceramic surface and warm light. The lamp creates tension in a interior.

A’ Art Design Award aims to highlight the excellent qualifications of best art designs and greatest art design concepts worldwide. The A’ Design Accolades are organized and awarded annually and internationally in multiple categories to reach a wide, design-oriented audience. The ultimate aim of the A’ art Design Competition is to create a global awareness for good design.

31/07/201926/08/2020

Golden Design Award from A’Design Award

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.

03/07/201915/07/2019

Gem and Spike lamps exhibited in Tendence fair, Frankfurt

There was a heat wave in Frankfurt, so it was good to walk to the exhibition center early in the morning before the temperature rised to 40 Celcius. A total of 603 exhibitors presented their fashionable lifestyle and trend products at the 3-day lifestyle fair. My booth was in the Hall 8.

I exhibited two new lamp concepts at the exhibition. The 35 cm wide Spike lamp has a “bad attitude”. It is studio made from ceramics and metal. Orders are available via online message.

The second new piece was the emerald green Gem lamp that is shaped by hand and has a dimmable LED light. Every lamp is also signed. Gem is available for order via online message.

Icebergs will be exhibited also in the Venice Glass Week in September. It was great to already meet many Venetian people that were visiting Tendence!

Gem vase has the same solid colored emerald green glass material as the Gem lamp and the green Icebergs. I chose the color as my theme in the booth to highlight the varied essence of glass material.

03/12/201803/12/2018

A Glass Journey in Toronto and New York

Exhibition venue for the Nordic Glass exhibition is Harbourfront Centre

A lakeside view opens through the huge windows of Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Behind the centre rises the CN Tower, the landmark of the city. The building, surrounded by skyscrapers, is filled with Scandinavian art. The self-portraits of Iiu Susiraja cover the walls of the Portraits at Home exhibition. The next space is occupied by massive ceramic works of Anders Herwald Ruhwald. The exhibition, called The Hand is the Mind is the Bomb that Blows, lives up to its name. Nordic Glass gathers up nine skilled Nordic glass artists, who rewrite the history of Nordic glass in the 21^st century.

The description of the exhibition:

Nordic glass was at a high point in the mid-20th century. Famous glass factories like Orrefors, Iittala, Holmegaard and Kosta Boda; and designers such as Tapio Wirkkala and Alvar Aalto were synonymous with good design and refined taste. This heyday created distinctive identities for all four countries—Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland—and collectively added to the Scandinavian Modern aesthetic. Sadly, few of the glass factories remain due to market pressures and outsourcing. However, these economic realities have not lessened the association of well-designed and crafted glass within Nordic countries. The situation has given rise to a bright new generation of glass artists and designers; ones with independent spirits focused on self-expression, experimentation and entrepreneurship. This exhibition highlights a group of glass artists shaping the future of Nordic glass for the 21st century.

My objects in the exhibition are glass mountains. These interior design sculptures can be organized to form either scenic ensembles, glass installations or mental landscapes. Glass imitates the characteristics of ice by frosting and cracking. It is the aesthetic of quietness.

I’m exhibiting Icebergs in the Norden Festival

toronto2 — Opening party of the Norden Festival was full of interesting art folks.

During my journey I had the also the chance to visit New York and meet with design gallerists. I was delighted to visit for example Usagi Gallery, where my Sade sculpture was on display during the NYX Design event. Meeting with my contacts in Toronto also gave ideas to some possible future collaboration projects. It was extremely interesting to visit design and art businesses both in Toronto and New York as well as glass galleries of northern parts of USA. Glass was blown in tourist attractions, schools and culture centres. The Nordic Glass exhibition is open in Toronto until the summer of 2019. Welcome!

13/03/201817/03/2018

Design Pier Hong Kong

I was invited to the annual Design Pier 2018 exhibition in Hong Kong. It’s wonderful to be one of the 20 young talents that are highlighted in the show! This year Finland has a special role in the exhibition: we have two designers in it. I’m so happy to represent Finland with Lincoln Kayiwa! The idea in the exhibition is that each object tells a story – True tales by design.

I will exhibit two very opposite projects; The Jungle collection and Icebergs. The contrasts in nature and the way they create harmony was what I desired to capture in the Jungle collection. The rhythm of the glass making process ensures that each object has a unique colour play inside the glass. The movement of the glass creates vivid illusions in thick material that come to life when the object is illuminated. The Jungle collection is also introduced in European Design Fairs in Munich, Hamburg, Gorinchem, Stockholm and Frankfurt by DutZ Design.

design pier 2 — Glass mountains has been exhibited in Scandinavian Pavilion of The Interior Lifestyle Tokyo Japan 2017 and in Designboom Pavillion in Toronto Interior Design Show 2018.

Stories are fundamental to human existence. Stories structure our thinking, the way we live our lives and make sense of our experiences. Objects tell stories too. Stories of the culture they come from, stories of the people who dreamed them, their struggles and their success. Stories of a creative process that formed them, the materials they are made up from. Stories of how they transformed human environments.

Design Pier’s new exhibition guides its guests into the world of creation and presents twenty international cutting-edge designers and design brands whose products connect with us on an emotional level because they have a story to tell.

Finncham

Design Pier Exhibition
28th – 31st March
Opening 27 March at 7 PM
Lanson Place Hotel,
133 Leighton Road,
Causeway Bay,
Hong Kong