Sini Majuri

Glassblower

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Nordic cool

Sini combines 3D design with old glass blowing techniques
She works in a studio located in Suomenlinna, a Unesco listed sea fortress in Helsinki
Her works are surreal stories captured inside blown glass

Sini Majuri works as a glass artist and designer specialising in ancient glass blowing techniques. She has received multiple design awards such as a golden A’Design Award in Italy and has held over 60 exhibitions internationally. Working through an expressive medium many of Sini’s works have a true poetry about them. Sini creates interior design objects, modern custom made light sculptures, mountainous glass landscapes and contemporary narratives in glass. For Sini glass represents endless possibilities to express moods and feelings that might be difficult to represent with words; glass can be weightless and strong at the same time. Her work often combines 3D design with an expression influenced by comic strips.

Interview

What is important for you when working with glass?
In my artistic work I focus on glass blowing in a studio environment. Glass is an interesting material to work with because of its expressiveness; the reflections, shadows and liveliness of the material itself enhance the works. In design pieces I value charisma and in art projects ecological thinking.
How does your working process usually start?
For a single piece I usually have a very precise idea in my head on how the object will be before I start working with materials, but the process takes a long time. For an exhibition I aim to find a narrative within a theme. Stories then become sketches and drawings based on which I will create the actual objects.
What kind of objects do you make?
I define my works as modern art sculptures. I often use a combination of glass and a picture. There are multiple ways to produce a picture on a glass surface and working with one object can take anything from days to years. Often cartoon as a form is represented in one way or another; I also frequently explore how women have been represented in culture.
Do you have a favourite model you use?
Yes, I usually use a model called contemporary vessel. It is a vase-like object which has an interesting form; a vase is one of the earlier storytelling formats.

Sini Majuri is a master artisan: she began her career in 2008 and she started teaching in 2016