Why glass?
The first time I came into contact with glass it frightened me, but at the same time it mesmerised me with its colours, structure and fragility. Some people can watch the aurora lights or fire for a long period, but for me it’s glass, it just enchants me with its liveliness under different lights.
From where do you gather inspiration?
Colours! Often colours spark the inspiration for my work and usually I have had very colourful works that spark a conversation. I’m also inspired by nature and human life, especially the taboo side of human life that is rarely talked about, such as death, sorrow and loss.
© Minna Tuohisto-Kokko
What do you specialise in?
Lead glass techniques and stained glass windows created on lead rails, which are rare skills to possess in Finland. In recent years I've also created modern glass mosaics, a different skill to traditional mosaic techniques, as I cut the glass myself and I am not using ready made components.
Is your craft in danger?
Yes. Some of the materials I use are becoming scarce here in Finland and I have to search for them abroad, but even abroad there are not many manufacturers left. Also, using lead as a material is being prohibited by law to obtain a greener footprint in Finland, which has led to a decrease in the import of certain materials.