WELCOME TO THE FINNISH GLASS MUSEUM’S BLOG!
In exceptional times, museums have often held an exceptional role in the society. The importance of communality and shared memory has been understood in times of trial. As a vanguard of the culture, the modern museum continues to represent collective ownership and emphasizes the meaning of national pride and history. The importance of culture to all of us is remarkable; culture gives us content and depth.
Savoy-vases by Alvar Aalto
Treasures from the Museum´s collection
This spring, museums around the world are closed, but many will offer visitors the opportunity for virtual tours and other virtual activities. The Finnish Glass Museum has been a digital pioneer in the Finnish museum scene, presenting exhibitions and part of the collections virtually, hall by hall, on our website for a couple of years. In addition, the museum has recorded glassblowing, which is always a spectacular experience to watch.
During the spring, we have also opened a blog where you visitors get closer to the world of glassware. We will present our own significant objects, open the stories behind the pieces and designers and inform you about our staff. At the museum, we get to explore objects that have not only historical but also qualitative and artistic significance. Through them, we are able to learn more about the past and, on the other hand, we can learn new things about art and the power of expression. As a material, glass is impressive - its sensitivity makes it difficult to handle and it is always surprisingly strong and very fragile at the same time.
Exhibition EGS
Art glass by EGS
Why are the glass items so interesting? What mutual do we have, as we see and use them? Nationally, we share a common design language and object history that we experience not only in museum exhibitions but also in our homes. The feeling of togetherness by the objects and their meaning opens up in a way that can be called very personal at best. Such are the objects that relate to the lives of most of us; Aalto’s Savoy, Wirkkala’s Ultima Thule, Franck’s Kartio, Still’s Grapponia, Tynell’s Aitanlukko, Sarpaneva’s Marcel, Toikka’s Birds, just to name a few.
In turn, today’s glass artists have been able to renew our understanding of traditional glassblowing. The forms are new; the works have become sculptures that should also be touched. Young artists are inspired by the surrounding world in a new way – in the works you’ll find manifestations of not only natural forms but also modern life. Glass art amazes, teaches and opens our eyes to face surprising things. Therefore, we at the museum are also very happy to be able to contribute to the promotion of contemporary glass art.