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Exhibition in Suonenjoki

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, Rautalampilehti
Orinnoro 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 Ikonen
See 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.

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The Venice Glass Week 2020

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 Pistore

The 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.

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1000 Vases exhibition in Dubai Design District

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 @nateleecocks
I 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 @nateleecocks
The 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 @nateleecocks
The 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 @nateleecocks
During 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 Lavikainen
When 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.

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Dreams exhibition opens in Gallery Pictor

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!

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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.
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New edition of Jungle Collection premiered in Dubai

1000 VASES exhibition in Dubai presents a unique selection of vases in the Dubai Design District during the Art Dubai 2019 Festival. Sini Majuri has been invited to take part to the international show with her latest edition of the Jungle Collection.

Sini Majuri’s glass vase collection Jungle was first introduced by DutZ Collection in 2018 and exhibited in design fairs around Europe, China and Japan. In 2019 there will be 3 new models premiered in Dubai. The theme in the new pieces is “Rainforest”. Eacn object is solid glass and shaped by hand. The technique used is Timo Sarpaneva’s Steam Stick.

The event redefines both the space of the exhibition and the very presentation of an object, here the vase: a functional, everyday object that rises to the rank of fine-art object thanks to the work and imagination of these designers. This medium is therefore perfect to show all the plurality of the artistic scene today.

2019 edition of Jungle collection will be premiered in Dubai. The shape of the objects is inspired by Timo Sarpaneva’s Steam stick-technique.


The public will be invited to discover, throughout the duration of the exhibition, the creations of young independent designers: unique pieces, made in a multitude of materials and reflecting the personality, the universe and the sensitivity of each.

This overwhelming volume of vases compels us with its richness, its diversity and reveals to us all the artistic expertise of these creators. A profusion of vases which is nothing less than the reflection of the inventiveness and the creative intensity which they show, provoking in us this much desired emotion.

To show the singularity of each designer while confronting him with what surrounds him to better understand the dynamism of the current creation, is at it’s core, the philosophy of the project 1000 Vases.

1000 VASES

19 – 25.3.2019
Opening 19.3. At 6.30 – 9 PM

Dubai Design District (d3)
Atrium of building No.7
PO Box 333 300
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
GPS: Lat: 25.18629 Lng: 55.29914

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Bukowskis auction

The Helsinki Today auction opens today at Bukowskis Finland! The auction is the only one of its kind in Finland and presents the very best of Nordic contemporary art and design. It’s possible to bid also online until 19 March! I’m so happy to be part of this wonderful contemporary art exhibition with a collection of glass pieces from past years!

Here are some pieces from the auction that are especially dear to me. By clicking the images you can also visit the auction pages.

 

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Aino is made with 100 years old graal technique where the images are drowned inside the glass. This piece has special value for me, because there are for example our families coat of arms hidden in it. There are also many details that can only be seen from right angle. Thick glass gives interesting optical properties to glass. Aino has been exhibited in Toronto, London and Ohio.

 

 

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This light sculpture “Kaamos” is one of my favourite works from past years. It’s inspired by winter and how light is reflected from the snow. The unique piece is a combination of free formed glass and painted wood.

 

 

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When the birds fly low is a mixture of heavy bubbles and hazy painting. I wanted the piece to have a mysterious feeling and a lot of movement. The technique is called pulegoso, bubbly glass.

 

 

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Harpy is one of my favourite themes in glass. It is a creature that is half woman and half bird. Harpy is one of my first graal pieces that are a part of a narrative that continues from one sculpture to another.

 

 

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This vase is a part of the Jungle collection prototypes. I wanted the color to mimic the movement of a vawe.

 

 

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In this piece I wanted to capture the moment when the storm is rising. How the air is heavy and wind starts to get intense.

 

 

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Rain is part of a narrative about a flying boat. It shows a moment when a woman is trying to capture the rain.

 

 

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In this sculpture a woman is sleeping and her breth becomes visible.