Glass from Finland in the Bischofberger Collection.
Venice, Island of san Giorgio Maggiore – until August 2nd
From 10am to 7pm closed on Wednesdays
On display for the first time in Venice over 300 glass objects from the renowned collection belonging to Christina and Bruno Bischofberger, featuring many works of art by the most important Finnish designers of the 20th century.
This important exhibition features the best of Finnish design thanks to the unprecedented loan of 322 glass works from the Bischofberger Collection, Switzerland. The beauty of artistic glass features masterpieces by the foremost 20th century Finnish designers: Aino and Alvar Aalto, Arttu Brummer, Kaj Franck, Goran Hongell, Gunnel Nyman, Timo Sarpaneva, Oiva Toikka and Tapio Wirkkala.
The exhibition will offer an unrivalled opportunity to view some very rare objects, often unique or early production pieces, which Christina and Bruno Bischofberger have collected with passion and insight over the past forty years. A collection that, as stated by the curators, is a mirror of the soul and spirit of its collectors. The primary criterion of choice in this collection is aesthetic quality with a focus on glass design of the 1950s, which became world-famous at the Milan Triennials of 1951, 1954 and 1957. The most famous designers were Kaj Franck, Timo Sarpaneva and Tapio Wirkkala.
The majority of the items are modernist art glass, objects that became internationally renowned and made Finland known abroad.
In the early Fifties, after the hiatus due to World War II and the three wars in which Finland was involved between 1939 and 1945the Finnish design laid the foundations of what would become “the golden age” of Finnish glass. This was also made possible by the impressive industrial growth of the country, resulting in the manufacturing and distribution of everyday life objects. As the curators of the exhibition point out — “Finnish glass started to be appreciated during the 1950s for the quality of its manufacturing process, which on the one hand ensured its high artistic value, and on the other fostered its industrial production and ensuing commercial success.” From then on Finnish design was exported
This important exhibition features the best of Finnish design thanks to the unprecedented loan of 322 glass works from the Bischofberger Collection, Switzerland. The beauty of artistic glass features masterpieces by the foremost 20th century Finnish designers: Aino and Alvar Aalto, Arttu Brummer, Kaj Franck, Goran Hongell, Gunnel Nyman, Timo Sarpaneva, Oiva Toikka and Tapio Wirkkala.
