Glass artist Vesa Varrela is one of the icons of our post-modern
glass art. He was not sufficiently attracted by the studio
glass art of the late 20th century, so from a fairly early
stage he began to travel along roads of his own.
An essential element in Varrela's career has been his interest
in solvin pedagogical problems. As a teacher in the University
of Art and Design Helsinki in 1987 - 1993, he contributed
significantly to the development of teaching of abstract glass
art in Finland. This phase culminated in the graduation of
the first university-educated Masters of glass art. During
the 1990s, Varrela was also instrumental in starting a Venetian
fashion in our glass art, an otherwise fairly unusual phenomenon
in the North. After the start in 1993 numerous workshops under
Venetian master glassmakers have guided glass students into
the world of making and blowing Italian art glass.
In 1990, Vesa Varrela mounted the exhibition "Memories
of the 90s" in the Finnish Glass Museum. Looking back
to it now, a decade later, one feels it was aptly named.
Many of the installations then exhibited, combining glass
and scrap metal, have become classics in museum collections
all over the world and in private collections.
In recent years Varrela has worked with incalmo and ring-technique,
renewing the colorful hollow cylinder shapes in the spirit
of Kaj Franck's traditional coloured plates. The work also
serves as a splendid proof of the skills of master blower
Jaakko Liikanen. The results are extremely interesting,
unique glass pieces with fresh motifs.
Among the many facets of Vesa Varrela's art, the role of
the glass artist seems to become stronger as he grows and
matures from an empiricist towards the position reserved
for him in Finnish glass art. His dynamic character has
provided plenty of capability for renewal, and whatever
paths his art will next take, in all likelihood they will
provide an interesting experience for those watching his
progress.
A resident of the city of Tampere, Varrela is internationally
among our most widely known modern glass artists. His bold
work is in demand by notable glass gallerias and museums
throughout the world.
Dr. Heikki Matiskainen
Director
The Finnish Glass Museum
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