Exhibition

Glasmuseum Hentrich
Grünes Gewölbe in der Tonhalle

In the years following the Second World War, European glass design was no longer concentrated in the center of Europe. Instead, its focal points moved to the southern and northern peripheries, to Murano, Scandinavia and Finland. However, the relationship between these two poles was never one marked by the fighting of competitors, but rather by mutual respect and fascination with each other's strengths. They frequently influenced each other and occasionally worked directly together. The initiative for this cooperation generally came from the leading Murano glassworks, Venini & C.
The high point of this cultural connection between southern colors and northern forms was the cooperation of the legendary Finnish designers Tapio Wirkkala and Timo Sarpaneva with Venetian manufacturers, which has found a sequel in the activities of Harri Koskinen. More than 100 sketches, executed by Murano masters of the highest rank, unequivocally demonstrate the power and inspiring effects that the special atmosphere of this lagoon town still exerts today on receptive artists.
The exhibition is based on a private collection. It was organized by the Finnish Glass Museum in Riihimäki.
Guided tour with the curator, Dr. Helmut Ricke, at 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2008