TAPIO WIRKKALA AND THE LEGACY OF A MAGICIAN

Designer Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) has been considered as an iconic artist, and probably an iconic personality in the world of design – a myth maker, forerunner and a great accomplisher, whose reputation exceeds many. An idea of a man and his knive in a Finnish nature, with natural forms inspiring to create pieces to represent light, shade, water or movement, is unique. Far away seems to be the idea of an industrial production, which still is needed to work out the objects; nothing is simply emerging, even if the end result would lead us to believe otherwise.

What wizard-like abilities Wirkkala did possess: a person full of creativity, who could transform his experience of the nature to an actual physical object. The relationship with the surrounding nature seemed to affect everything he did. The geometrical order and optical qualities are suddenly in front of us, almost as abstract manifestations, yet completely tangible.

The spectrum of Tapio Wirkkala’s items is immense. As a designer, he really could comprehend the world of objects in a very broad manner; as everyday commodities, interesting curiosities and impressive art pieces. His designs are most likely to be familiar to every household in Finland, starting from bottles to the toilet seats, not to mention the glass services and art glass items.

After a quite unusual spring, the museums were re-opened on 2nd of June. The date was duly noted at the Finnish Glass Museum, as it happens to be the birthday of Tapio Wirkkala – and the museum building itself designed by him. At the moment, our collection houses over 1200 items related to Wirkkala. In our permanent exhibition you can also see interesting material related to the production, such as the mould for the glass sculpture Pilkkiavanto, (Ice Fishing Hole), which the artist himself carved in 1975.

The Finnish Glass Museum´s permanent exhibition Photo: The Finnish Glass Museum — The Finnish Glass Museum´s permanent exhibition
Photo: The Finnish Glass Museum

Furthermore, Wirkkala was a vital part in making Finland internationally important as a design country. We can refer to it as the so-called miracle of Milan, when the Finnish design truly conquered the world with its works, and received almost all the accolades and prizes in the Milan Triennials in the 1950s. As you, our visitors, are now enjoying this summer’s exhibitions; the works of Gunnel Nyman and Dora Jung and the fantastic art of Venini, the museum workers are already turning the gazes to next year and the 40th anniversary of the museum, by beginning to plan the exhibition called ‘The Miracle of Milan’. Wirkkala will thus be present here for a while.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure to work with a very special auction, commemorating Wirkkala’s 100th birthday. I wrote the auction catalogue and while researching the items, one thought seemed to follow me everywhere, with each piece. Then I wrote it down. “His eye never fails us.”

How true it is. Through Wirkkala’s visions, we, as an audience, are able to be part of that experience of natural surroundings; his nature, which is pure, beautiful and always present to the Finns.

Welcome to the museum!

Text: Johanna Lindfors