Photo: Tuukka Palonen Teemu Kylvö, who lives and keeps his studio in Kellopytinki, the old main building of Nuutajärvi Manor, has quickly gained fame as a young glass artist. Kylvö has just opened an exhibition at the Riihimäki Glass Museum, featuring glass lamps made by the artist. Drawing inspiration for his work from natural stones and graffiti culture, among other things, Kylvö’s works ward off boredom with asymmetrical forms, colourful combinations and abstract patterns.
Studio in the old main building of Nuutajärvi Manor
Kellopytinki (“Clock Building”), built in the late 1700s and moved to its current site in 1842, is currently undergoing renovation. Originally the home of the glass factory manager, the building’s facade was renovated in 2010, including the old clock tower. Beneath the heavy building paper, an old log wall is visible, which the renovation will attempt to bring out more clearly. A row of south-facing windows floods the room with light.
The aim is to renovate so that as much of the old building as possible is preserved and visible. The log walls will be brought out, the old floorboards will remain in place and the downstairs fireplace will be repaired so that the tiling does not need to be replaced. I think it's great that Kellopytinki is in use and not crumbling as a museum site that you can look at but not touch.
Kylvö lives and works in Kellopytinki. Kylvö makes glass art about 100 metres from the building at the premises of Lasikomppania, but keeps his office on the second floor of Kellopytinki.
Kylvö sandblasting the surface of a part of a lamp in the Lasikomppania premises. Photo: Tuukka Palonen
Inspiration for glass lamp design from the brash graffiti culture
In his studio, Kylvö adjusts his three-part glass lamps. Making a lamp that provides uniform light and is aesthetically pleasing requires a great deal of positioning and fixing after the glass parts have been made.
It's interesting to make lamps because they have their own challenges: the end result should look good as it is without light, but also with light. The shape and colours of the lamp affect the refraction and diffusion of light. I've made a large number of beautiful lamps in which I can't get the lighting to work. When I install the bulb inside, I notice that the light appears as a blip at one point of the lamp and, otherwise, the lamp is unlit.
Arranging the components of the lamps and positioning the light source so that the end result is pleasing to the eye and serves the intended purpose is a time-consuming task. Photo: Tuukka Palonen
Kylvö’s lamps are both design glass and utility articles. The unique lamps are blown without a mould and no two lamps are identical.
I want to make unique glass, and free-blowing is the way to do it. I also like the idea that the person who buys the item will have something unique in their home.
Graffiti lamps. Photo: Teemu Kylvö
Kylvö's works feature abstract forms, asymmetry and colourfulness. Where does the artist find inspiration?
I gain a great deal of inspiration from nature. I am particularly inspired by the textures, shapes and colours of different stones and I believe that natural stones are also very much present in my work. Another key contributor is graffiti. The rebelliousness and brashness of graffiti culture appeals to me and I try to bring this same attitude to my glass. I follow a number of graffiti artists, but my favourite is the French C215, who has a very original style of using different shapes in his portraits.
Works by C215 aka Christian Guémy, screenshot from the artist's Instagram
Who is Teemu Kylvö?
Teemu Kylvö (b. 1994), originally from Pori, is a glass artist living and working in Nuutajärvi. Kylvö, who switched from ICT to glass, is particularly known for his colourful lamps.
The creative process
The works come from my imagination. I don't do a lot of model drawings. I make a kind of model of the idea and develop the model in the direction that I think looks good. The shape and texture of the object are important. I use sandblasting a great deal. I use different forms to maintain liveliness and mobility. I prefer vividness and use a lot of colours.
The creative process: brainstorming
I also spend a great deal of time thinking, for example with these new three-piece lamps. I play with the idea of what the lamp could be. I draw a visual image of the lamp in my head and wonder if such a part would fit into the lamp.
The creative process: the work as a person
If I've had a difficult start, I might think about the piece as a person, what colour and what kind of clothes it wears and what its name is. I externalize the work as a person and build on it. This is a game of imagination.
Role models and personal style
I avoid following too much of other glass artists' work, so as not to take on too much influence. I once drew a piece and realised that it contained stuff by five different artists, and wasn’t really much of my own. I want to make art that looks like me, not too easy, or too similar to someone else.
Similarities between artists and personal style
Artists strive to do something new, but artists often use similar colours and similar shapes. It's a bit boring. I've made a lot of basic shapes myself and have copied a lot in the past. New designers have similar ideas and the same colour charts. Something could be done about this. Is it the school's fault or what?
Uniqueness and personal style
I don't usually use a mould. Free-blowing gives the work a unique look. Even if I made 20 lamps, no two would be the same. I want to make unique works.
Paintings
I also make some paintings. These have not been on sale. I use a great deal of colour, different textures, all kinds of lines, etc. This also makes it easier to see what the glass might look like.
The nature of art
I don't think all the art, glass and shapes have already been done. Why would we do this if everything had already been done?
Teemu Kylvö – Teleports
Kylvö has just opened an exhibition called Teleports at the Finnish Glass Museum in Riihimäki, displaying Kylvö’s glass lamps. The works are blown by Teemu Kylvö and Otto Koivuranta, and sanded by Tommi Tikkinen and Juha Juselius. The exhibition is open from 4 February to 30 April 2023.
Opening of the exhibition. Photo: Lasinkeräilijän Blogi
The Riihimäki exhibition has been a pleasure to work on. Initially, there was talk of displaying forest works, or both lamps and forest works. However, I decided that the exhibition will feature a variety of teleport lamps. Teleport lamps bring a new perspective to what lamps can be today. I recommend anyone interested in art and glass to go and see the Teleports exhibition.
Homepage:
https://www.kylvodesign.com/
Facebook: Kylvö Design __________________________________________________________________________________
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Tuukka Palonen
Kirjoittaja on Nuutajärveltä kotoisin oleva freelance-kirjoittaja ja yksi Nuutajärvellä järjestettävän Mitäs Mitäs Mitäs -festivaalin tuottajista