Posted on

FRESH Finland’s adventure in Venice Glass Week 2021

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.
Posted on

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)