Tapio Wirkkala at the Glass Museum

From 7 May to 29 September 2019 Murano and contemporary Exhibition of TAPIO WIRKKALA in the Glass Museum in Murano, Venezia.

Tapio Wirkkala (1915- 1985) was one of the great names of the golden age of design in Finland. He mastered many materials and elements both as a sculptor and as an industrial and graphic designer. The variety of his work ranges from stamps to monuments, from jewelry to furniture. He used a large assortment of materials, from silver to plastic, from plywood to porcelain. His talent for transforming natural elements and his ability to conceptualize design masterpieces have made his work famous throughout the world.

Wirkkala is considered a d esign icon in Scandinavia, but is also well known in Italy. T his year, the Civic Museums Foundation of Venice presents an exhibition focused on the material that has been at the center of Wirkkala's activity since the beginning: glass. But the review also includes some of his iconic projects that use other materials. The exhibition is curated by Finnish designer Harri Koskinen and Italian architect Marco Romanelli, creating a dialogue of perspectives between Finland and Italy. Working with the Iittala glassworks for over forty years, Wirkkala's work has ranged from simple, geometric but refined sets of glasses for everyday use to unique and artistic glasses made with the most diverse craft techniques. He also designed a wide range of industrial glass objects, such as lamps and glass containers. Many of his creations are still produced and available today.

On Murano, Wirkkala worked with Venini from the sixties onwards. The traditional techniques and strong colors typical of Murano led him to create another series of absolute masterpieces still well known . His projects have been exhibited several times in Finland and the rest of the world. He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including several awards at the Milan Triennale. His works can be found in the collections of important international design museums.

Credits: Museo del Vetro