Tapio Wirkkala: The Sculptor of Ultima Thule

Itami City Museum of Art, History and Culture

Finished

Artists

Tapio Wirkkala

This is the first major solo exhibition in Japan of the artist Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985), whose presence is overwhelming in the world of Finnish modern design. From the late 1940s through the 1950s, Wirkkala was catapulted into the limelight by winning the Iittala design competition and the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale. Wirkkala’s field of design extends beyond glass to include porcelain, silverware, jewelry, lighting, furniture, graphics, and space. The highlight of Wirkkala’s work is the sophisticated form he creates by making numerous drawings and prototypes, working with a variety of materials, and using his keen tactile sense and vision.
Like his wife Rut Bryk, a ceramic artist, Wirkkala loved the tranquility of Lapland, and the mysteries of life and the movement of nature inspired him to create masterpieces such as “Ultima Thule” (Latin for “the northernmost point in the world”). In addition, his glass objects with mythological motifs, objects made with the plywood he developed called “Rhythmic Plywood,” and his landscape art that uses even the earth and wind as allies reveal the face of an artist different from that of a product designer.

This exhibition will feature approximately 300 carefully selected products and objects from the EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art, the Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation, and the Collection Kakkonen, as well as photographs and drawings (copies) to explore the delicate and dynamic Wirkkala’s world as a designer and a sculptor.

Schedule

Aug 1 (Fri) 2025-Oct 13 (Mon) 2025