HAMK participates in the first Finnish Glass Biennale
Finland’s first international Glass Biennale will take place from June 5–8, 2025, in Riihimäki, Nuutajärvi, and Iittala. The event offers a unique opportunity to explore glass art and design and hear insights from leading experts in the field.
The main venue, the Old Glass Factory in Riihimäki, will host the exhibition Shaping Glass – Shaping Future, bringing together glass projects from various educational institutions offering education related to glass. In addition to Häme University of Applied Sciences, participants include The School of Arts, Design, and Architecture at Aalto University , Tavastia Vocational College, University of Lapland, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, and the Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design.
The exhibition also showcases HAMK’s robotics expertise. Generally, robotics plays increasing role in assistive tasks within physical spaces, such as museum environments. In the Glass Biennale exhibition, the Pepper robot is being tested to support guidance in presenting glass artworks. Pepper is also wearing sleeves inspired by the protective clothing of an industrial robot. Among modern visualization methods related to glass, lasering has been used in constructing the aesthetic appearance of the exhibition glass.
Participants for the exhibition from HAMK are Wilma Väisänen, Sanna Vuorenmaa, Tamami Okada, Hanna Keskimäki, Iiris Suurpää, Alberto Castellanos Rodriguez, and Aada Vainio.
The works displayed by HAMK’s glass students have been curated by Anna-Kaisa Haanaho, Lecturer in Design, and the coordination of the joint exhibition has been the responsibility of glass student Saara Tillonen. Wilma Väisänen, Design Assistant, has also been part of the working group.
Glass will be celebrated in Riihimäki, Nuutajärvi, and Iittala from 5 to 8 June 2025. Glassblowing World Championships will be held in Iittala Glass Factory on 7 June 2025.