Operated by the Calgary Contemporary Arts Society

Fragile But Strong & Glass-Art-Function
October 12 - November 17, 2000

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Introduction

Functionalism and Beyond
Contemporary Glass and Ceramics of Finland

Fragile But Strong
Works by Brita Flander and Elina Sorainen

Glass-Art-Function
Post-Modernist Glass of Finland

From the northern wilderness of Europe, Finland has quietly established a worldwide reputation as a leader in 20th Century design. As a meeting ground between East and West, Finland has felt cultural influences from both Russia and Sweden.

The fascination of glass and searching for a new abstract vocabulary has long been the muse of Flander's work. Her pieces echo the mystery and delicacy of oceanic life forms.

For over four decades Finnish design has been acclaimed internationally by critics, collected by museums and, most importantly, enjoyed by an astonishingly large international audience.

These objects of art that - in a process - have become the classics of Finnish design carry with them a sense of context, thus helping to define the process of design in terms of form and function.

FUNCTIONALISM AND BEYOND
Contemporary Glass and Ceramics of Finland

From the northern wilderness of Europe, Finland has quietly established a worldwide reputation as a leader in 20th Century design. As a meeting ground between East and West, Finland has felt cultural influences from both Russia and Sweden. The result is rich blending of aesthetic concepts that emerges to form a distinctively Finnish style in architecture and design. This aesthetic line is reflected in the art objects of clean, minimal design, of which examples are presented in two exhibitions of Finnish design at the Gallery.

Fragile But Strong (lower gallery) features the most recent works in glass and ceramics by Brita Flander and Elina Sorainen, two leading Finnish artists and designers. Flander and Sorainen are renowned both at home and abroad for the beauty and subtlety of their work.

The fascination of glass and searching for a new abstract vocabulary has long been the muse of Flander's work. Her pieces echo the mystery and delicacy of oceanic life forms. They include glass sculptures that are suspended in space, refracting light and colour as the viewer moves around them. Currently, Brita Flander works as a freelance artist and designer in France. Sorainen's work draws inspiration from the earth. Her ceramic pieces are made of high-fired stoneware and porcelain. Ornamentation is produced by applying natural ash glazes according to the Nerikomi technique, a Chinese method of ornamentation that dates back to the T'ang Dynasty (ca. 600-900 AD). Since 1981, Elina Sorainen has worked in Finland as an independent studio potter, producing both functional and decorative work. Presently, Sorainen leads a research project involving the Balouchi female potters of southern Iran.

For over four decades Finnish design has been acclaimed internationally by critics, collected by museums and, most importantly, enjoyed by an astonishingly large international audience. The important experiments of the 1930s, which included the landmark pressed-glass design of Alvar Aalto and Aino Marsio-Aalto set the stage for the next phase in the phenomenal progress of Finnish design. The new Finnish spirit of triumph was felt as early as 1951, when Finland's contribution to the prestigious Milan Triennale included - amongst others - the work of Tapio Wirkkala, awarded three gold medals for glass design. This great success, which brought Finnish design and Finnish designers to the attention of a growing and eager audience of international critics and consumers, was followed by even greater triumphs at the 1954 Triennale, when Finnish designers received awards that encompassed a broad range of design from glass and ceramics to furniture and textiles. Names like Alvar and Aino Aalto, Tapio Wirkkala, Timo Sarpaneva, Kaj Franck and Saara Hopea belong to a pantheon of international design and have played a critical role in establishing a strong position of Finnish design at the international scene.

Glass-Art-Function: Post Modernist Glass of Finland (upper gallery)- organized in partnership with the KIT Gallery - presents the works in glass by these eminent Finnish artists and pays a well-deserved tribute for their contributions to international design and architecture. These objects of art that - in a process - have become the classics of Finnish design carry with them a sense of context, thus helping to define the process of design in terms of form and function. This process can be seen as one of the tenets of the new humanism of design that has guided the efforts of the twentieth century and one in which Finland has played a major role.

Jacek Malec Director,
Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts

Information for the art shown above:

• Elina Sorainen, Mushrooms (goblets), 1997, nerikomi, stoneware, natural ash-glaze
• Brita Flander, Secret, colored glass
• Brita Flander, Seraphines, Various colored glass