Nordic Glass in Zagreb
Nearly 80 glass items from 13 producers from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are on display at the exhibition of contemporary Nordic glass A Touch of Glass(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) taking place at Museum Mimara(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) in Zagreb from 13-30 May 2014. The exhibition is organized by the Embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in cooperation with Mimara Musem.
Finland is represented by glassworks and studios Iittala(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window), Lasismi(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window), Mafka (Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)and Kari Alakoski(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window).
Iittala’s practical, modern and durable objects, ranging from the legendary Alvar Aalto vase to magical Taika plate, will surely be the talk of the exhibition.
Glass art and small collections from Lasismi, a cooperative of eight young designers and glass blowers, portrays ambition and eagerness to learn.
Glassblower Marja Hepo-aho, who was chosen Young Craftsman of the year in 2012, is the talent behind Mafka. Her designs are inspired by the different forms of water. In addition to glass art, she also creates functional glass objects intended for everyday use.
Kari Alakoski is one of the few persons in Finland who is a master glassblower. His one-of-a-kind glass objects combine colors and shapes in a unique way that is pleasing to the eye.
The Nordic Embassies in Zagreb take great pride in this original exhibition, which is a great example of Nordic cooperation. Formal cooperation between Nordic countries is amongst the oldest and most extensive forms of regional cooperation in the world, which began in the early 1950's when parliamentary cooperation was formalized with the establishment of the Nordic Council, followed by the formation of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1971. Due to common history, similar structure of society and common values, it makes sense for Nordic countries to work together. By joining forces, their voice is stronger on the international scene.
In many ways, the design you can view in this exhibition reflects Nordic societies and peoples, as well as the influence of the Nordic geography, history and values. Nordic design is characterized by its simplicity, minimalism and functionality, which in the specific case of glass art is reflected in its' purity, clarity and modesty. Just the way we like it.