Tapio Wirkkala
Whether working in brass, glass or wood, Tapio Wirkkala stands as one of the pioneers of Finnish industrial art.
By Ellen Stewart on Thursday 9th February, 2012
“All materials have their own unwritten laws… You should never be violent with a material you’re working on, and the designer should aim at being in harmony with his material.” – Tapio Wirkkala
Tapio Wirkkala was a Finnish designer and sculptor; a major figure of post-war design. His work ranges from plastic ketchup bottles and metalware to glass ceramics and plywood in a range of styles.
After studying industrial design from 1933 to 1936, Wirkkala began a career in advertising before turning to designing glass for littala, Finland’s leading producer of glassware. He was trained as a decorative carver and sculptor, this unusual level of personal skill ensured that the hand of the designer was evident in the final product, and allowed him more control over the surfaces and textures of each piece than if he were simply handing over a stack of flat sketches to be interpreted by the factory foreman.
Wirkkala became his country’s most important post-war designer, creating beautiful fluent forms in glass, wood, metal and furniture, and in 1955 he designed the new Finnish Markka bank notes.
In the 50s, he worked in a taut yet organic style characterised by sculptural forms inspired by the Finnish landscape. Among his most famous works was the design for the Finladia vodka bottle, which was in circulation between 1990 and 2000. The item featured his signature dripping icicle look which took thousands of hours to develop a glass blowing technique that would produced the desired effect, with the original molds hand carved by Tapio in wood.
Wirkkala’s work was recognized internationally by the mid-20th century, notably at the Milan Triennales in 1951 and 1954. He was an artist of exceptional diversity. For him no material was alien and he left no area of design unexplored.
Wirkkala deserves credit for raising the profile of Finnish style. His designs celebrated nature and nodded to the inherent rugged beauty its forms. He created a type of design that was considered “democratic” by championing soulful, well-crafted, usable objects that never sacrificed functionality for beauty.
As a result of his work and never having had a tradition of lavishness or luxury materials, Finnish designers embraced the concept of clean lines and truth to materials combined with a naturalist craftsman feel.
Whether working with plastic of fine crystal, his own hands or directing a master Murano glassblower, Tapio Wirkkala was dedicated to making art.
