Page 28 - Issue 29 - VE Magazine

The
Finnish Line
Married couple, Tapio Wirkkala and Rut Bryt were a design force to be reckoned with
BY KARYN SPARKS
IF YOU’RE A Mid-century design nut and you haven’t heard of Tapio Wirkkala, OK, your secret is safe with us, but it’s really time you got up to speed. Designer, sculptor and year- round Santa Claus lookalike Wirkkala is re- sponsible for a broad spectrum of celebrated nature-inspired designs echoing everything from leaves to birds to ice formations. Indeed you may be sipping whisky from one of his classic icy drinking glasses as we speak (in which case, make mine a double!).
His wife, graphic designer and ceramic artist Rut Bryk, is less of a household name, as yet. But both were massively influential in launching the concept of modern Finnish into the Scandinavian design world that we all inhabit today.
The centenaries of the couple’s births are currently being celebrated with a range of events and an exhibition, which began in the middle of last year and will continue to at- tract visitors through into 2017. The exhibition, curated by designer Harri Koskinen, aims to increase the visibility of the important work produced by the couple as well as being a kind of backdrop to modern design.
Whilst Wirkkala was working in glass, wood, porcelain, plastic and silver sculptures, furniture and objects, Bryk’s delicate ceramic wall pieces, panels, bowls and textiles lift the heart and bring a whole new meaning to ‘sing- ing the blues’! Both Wirkkala and Bryk were skilled artisans but with an open attitude to- wards new technology, and their innovative approach expanded their field both in design and ambition.
Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985)
Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Wirkkala’s glass, ceramic, wood and silver work charmed international design circles, laying the founda- tion for the triumphs of Finnish design whilst working for not only several companies in Finland, but also in Italy, Germany and Mex- ico. His extensive oeuvre ranged from the humble domestic everyday to monumental art and abstract sculpture. And while his art- works are included in the collections of al- most all major international design museums, the beauty of Wirkkala is that his designs are still available for us to collect too! Here are some places to start.ve
Tapio Wirkkala with his 1970s Aslak Design
Drinking glasses for Iittala
In a period spanning four decades, Wirkkala designed about 400 glass objects for Iittala. Among his most famous works was the ‘Ultima Thule’, featuring
a dripping icicle effect, much copied but never equalled. Inspired by the Nordic winter and ice, the name – used on medieval maps – basically meant, further north than anyone knew about or anyone with any sense ventured!
The surface was created by carving into a graphic mould – thousands of hours were then spent perfecting the glass- blowing technique required to reproduce the desired effect in the glass. Shortly after Ultima Thule was launched, Finnair
Original boxed set of six highball Ultima Thule glasses from
the 1960s
started using the range of glassware on its Helsinki-to-New York route, which began operating in 1969. It quickly found a place in Finnish hearts as a major international design classic.
His first drinking glassware collection was ‘Tapio’ (1954), the most eye-catching element of the glass – the air bubble in the foot – was originally developed for producing art objects. Iittala’s range still includes the classic Tapio.
A Tapio glass with its distinctive air bubble foot
28 / August-September 2016 / ve
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