Artist’s Statement 2023
For over twenty years, Irina Pått has been known and recognized for her handmade and ecological design lighting and 3-D paperworks. Her new material is sustainable birch veneer. She has shown these new works in three successful exhibitions during the last two years.
Since her childhood, Pått has been dancing classical ballet and it is dance itself that has given inspiration for these new pieces. She has worked with lighting during much of her career, and now she is using the LEDs to create a line of light as an effective detail. There is a certain nostalgia she feels in these light effects, as she recalls the first neon lights she saw on the Lasipalatsi building roof in the 1950’s, and remembers the huge impact they made on her.
These lightworks are designed for both public and private venues. The pieces are both functional products and pure works of art, which challenge and blur the categorization between functional objects and visual arts. They honour the history of reliefs, while being very much her own expression. The works are reliefs with sunken hollow lighting. The stripes of different layers resemble “Giants’ Kettles” from the Ice Age. The environmentally friendly veneer is finished with wax. Using wood in buildings and interiors meets the criteria of sustainability. As well, wood has a positive effect on health and well-being and provides solutions to indoor air problems and noise reduction, while reducing our carbon footprint.
Pått received her B.A. from the Institute of Industrial Arts, Helsinki in 1969. From 1986 to 1990 she studied in Canada and received her Master’s degree from the University of Arts and Design/Aalto University, Helsinki in 1990.
Her works of art have been exhibited around the world: Kunsthalle in Helsinki, American Craft Museum in New York, Mingei Museum in San Diego, Harbourfront Gallery in Toronto, Louvre Musee des Arts Decoratififs in Paris, Rohsska Museet in Gothenburg, Rundetarn in Copenhagen and Imadate Exhibition of Paper Art in Japan.
Important public and private collections: Serlachius Art Sauna at Mantta, Finnish State Collection, Bank of Finland, City of Helsinki, G18, Foundation Pro Artibus, City Hall of Raseborg.
Irina Pått lives in Helsinki. The Svenska Kulturfonden Foundation has supported her exhibitions from 2020 to 2022.
IRINA PÅTT, light designer, paper and plywood
Studies
1986-90 University of Arts and Design / now: Aalto University Helsinki, Master of Arts
1986-90 Studies in Canada for MA
1969 Institute of Industrial Arts, Helsinki, BA
Solo exhibitions
2023 LUX Helsinki – Dancing in the Dark, Royale Estrad, Svenska Teatern, Helsinki
2021-22 Dansant, Gallery Elite, Helsinki
2021 Légère Comme une Plume, KonstoForm, Gumbostrand, Sipoo
The Magic of Dance, Gallery Veranda, Finlandia Hall, Helsinki
2010 L’Heure Bleue, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki
2008 Artist of the Month, Design Museum, Helsinki
2007 Paperi ja Rosteri, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki
2006 Lumidesign,Täky Galleria, Lappeenranta, Finland
2000 Lumi Lights, Gallery of Design Forum Finland, Helsinki
1998 Behind the Darkness, Bau galleria, Helsinki
1995 Light and shadow, Kuusankoskitalo, Kuusankoski, Finland
1994 Paper Art, CSS Canadian Sculptors’ Society gallery, Toronto, Canada
1993 Paper Works, Espoon kulttuurikeskus, Espoo, Finland
1992 Tracks in Snow, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki, Finland
Some group exhibitions / Finland
2023 Longing, RUNOhotelporvoo
2021 Ornamo Annual Art and Craft, Cable Factory, Helsinki
2020 Ornamo Annual Art and Craft, Cable Factory, Helsinki
2019 Ornamo Annual Art and Craft, Cable Factory, Helsinki
2018 Ornamo Annual Art and Craft, Cable Factory, Helsinki
2017 Puun Valo, Pro Puu-keskus, Lahti
Ornamo Annual Art and Craft, Cable Factory, Helsinki
2016 Ornamo Annual Art and Craft, Cable Factory, Helsinki
2015 Valo-Ljus-Lumière, KonstoForm, Gumbostrand, Sipoo
EcoDesign15, Habitare, Helsinki
Ornamo Annual Art and Craft, Cable Factory, Helsinki
2014 EcoDesign14, Habitare Helsinki
Ornamo Annual Art and Craft, Cable Factory, Helsinki
2013 Pyhäniemen kartano Summer exhibition, Hollola
2010 EcoDesign10, Habitare, Helsinki
With Love, Irina, Casuarina, Helsinki
Art Helsinki, Messukeskus, Helsinki
Gallery Norsu 10 years, Helsinki
2009 Finnish Paper Gallery 20 years, Kymen Paviljonki, Kuusankoski
2008 Art Helsinki, Wanha Satama, Helsinki
2006 Pro Artibus nyförvärv, Tobaksfabriken, Pietarsaari and Galleri Elverket, Tammisaari
Naisen Kuva 100 Years of Women Designers, Design Museum, Helsinki
2003 Valo-Lights, Copper Smithy, Fiskars
2002 TheTree of the World, Design Museum, Helsinki
Findesignnow 02, Copper Smithy, Fiskars
2001 The Editors´Dozen, awarded items during Helsinki Furniture Fair,
2000 Ljusspel-Valoleikki with Camilla Moberg and Karin Widnäs, Tammisaaren museo (now Raaseporin museo).
1999 Materia ja Muoto (Material Connections), Design Museum, Helsinki
1998 TAIKO 15 years, Verkaranta, Tampere
1997 Fibre – International Paper Exhibition, Ruukingalleria, Fiskars
Kesäcomment, Otso Galleria, Espoo
1996 Valo, Design Forum Finland, Helsinki
Luovat kädet, Kerava Museum
1994 Pro Cultura Esbo, Espoo Cultural Center, Espoo
Paperin Paino, Verkaranta, Tampere
1993 Etappi, Jyväskylän kotiteollisuusmuseo; Etelä-Karjalan taidemuseo
Novem, Kluuvin galleria, Helsinki; Pohjanmaan museo, Vaasa
1993 Materia, Kunsthalle Helsinki
1993 Paperipursi, Myllysaaren museo, Valkeakoski
Some group exhibitions / Abroad
2016 – 2019 Inspired by Paper – 30 years of IAPMA
(International Association of Paper Makers and Artists) touring exhibition,
North Cyprus EMU Famagusta, North Cyprus.
Museo della Carta Fabriano, Italy;
ART-papier Mattsee, Salzburg, Austria;
Paper Museum, Capellades, Barcelona, Spain;
Schleusenhaus, Stade, Germany;
Muzeum Papernictwa w Dusznikach, Zdroj, Poland;
Musée Le Vigan, France;
Papierwespe, Wienna, Austria;
Schloss Burgau, Düren, Germany;
Papiertechnische Stiftung, München, Germany;
Kunstraum Nierenhof, Velbert-Langenberg, Germany;
Forumkunstundhanwerk Tschacher, Mainburg, Germany
2009 Toinen luonto,DesignForum Finland-exhibition, Museum of Applied Arts of Budapest,Hungary
Hyvän elämän kaari (The arena of Good Life) Finnish Architecture and Design,
State Museum of City Sculpture, St.Petersburg, Russia
2006 Craft Show 2006, Philadelphia Museum of Art,
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, USA
2006-2007 Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth: touring exhibition in 14 European cities.
A Coruna, Vigo, Sofia, Beograd, Zagreb
2006 Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, Museum of Decorative Arts & Design, Oslo
2005 Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Riga, Budapest
2004 Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, Prague, Gent and Milan
2003 Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth, Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, Germany
2003 Light, Finland Center, Antwerpen, Belgia
Papirkunst, Finsk-Norsk kulturinstitutt, Oslo, Norway
2002 Finnish Design, Gallery Mexicana (in connection/ Frans Mayer Museum), Mexico City
2001 Klar Form – Finsk design och konsthantverk, Finland Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;
Klar Form – Finsk design och konsthantverk, Ekerö Kulturhus and Ekebyhovs slott Sweden
Paper+Finland=Art, Katherine Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
Paper+Finland=Art, Harbourfront Centre, York Quay Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
Paper+Finland=Art, Galerie Montcalme, Hull (Ottawa), Canada
2000 Paper+Finland=Art, Susquehannah Art Museum, Harrisburg, USA
Paper+Finland=Art, Art Galleries in Calgary
Paper+Finland=Art, St. John, Canada
Paper+Finland=Art, Mingei Museum, San Diego, California, USA
1999 Paper Worlds, Musée de Pully près de Lausanne, Switzerland
Finnish Points, Form Design Center, Malmö, Sweden
WCC (World Crafts Council) -European Prize for Contemporary Art- and Design-led Crafts,
Musée des arts Décoratifs, Palais du Louvre, Paris, France
WCC- Exhibition, Röhsska museet, Gothenburg, Sweden
1998 WCC- Exhibitition, Palais Harrach, Wien, Austria; Gent, Belgium
Paper+Finland= Art,The Chicago Athenaeum Museum at Schaumburg, USA
Paper+Finland=Art, American Craft Museum, New York, USA
Design for Europe, Biennal Interieur, Kortrijk, Belgium
1997 Finlandia Paperworks, Finlandia Hall, Embassy of Finland, Washington, DC, USA
3rd Triennale, Northern Textile, Tournai, Belgium
1996 The Ishikawa International Urushi Design Exhibition, Japan
1996 Kalejdopapper, Röhsska muséet, Gothenburg, Sweden
Paper Triennale, Musée Val de Charmey, Switzerland
Paper Path, Denmark; Haderslev Museum, Haderslev Kunstforening;
Paper Path, Galleri NB, Viborg;
Paper Path, Galleri Deco, Ålborg;
Paper Path, Galleri Rasmus, Odense
Paper Path, Esbjerg Kunstmuseum Galleri Slugen;
1995 Paper Path, Runde Tårn, Copenhagen, Denmark
1995 14th Imadate Exhibition of Paper Art, Japan
1994 Mail-Art, Leevenhurst, Holland
Novem – Finnish Craft, Form/ Design Center, Malmö, Sweden
1992 Medium Paper, Budapest, Hungary
Lamp Installations, Paper Art and Plywood works in Collections
ArtSauna, Mänttä Museums
Raasepori, City Hall
Pro Artibus, Raasepori
Museum für Papier- und Buchkunst, Lenningen, Germany
Papiertechnische Stiftung, München, Germany
Metso Paper, Stateline, USA
The Collections of Finnish State Art Commision, Helsinki
The Collections of Finnish State Art Commision, Algeria
The Collections of Finnish State Art Commision, Helsinki
Bank of Finland Collections, Helsinki
Population Register Center, Helsinki
Theodor Cabinet, City of Helsinki
Cultural Center G 18, Helsinki,
Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki,
Nordea Bank, Helsinki
Port of Helsinki
Finnish Pulp and Paper Research Institute, Espoo
Finnish tourist promotion center, Toronto
Abitibi-Consolidated, Toronto
UPM, Helsinki
The Collections of City of Lohja
Tamfelt, Tampere
Åbo Akademi, Turku
Other Activities
2017 PaperArtWork Kimara, video by Japanese Tokyo Design Week at Habitare, Helsinki
2014 LUMI (S) Lamp design for Innolux.fi
2013 LUMI (L) Lamp design for Innolux.fi
2012 “I have received confirmation of the Finnish Copyright Council,that my Winter Forest works
Wall Flax (Lamp Group Wall Installation), Table/Floor Flax and Boksi Flax enjoy copyright protection.”
2008- 2015 Konstrundan, Open House events at the Cable Factory Studio
2000 Design of PAPER LIGHT lamps for Design House Stockholm, Sweden
1999 LUMIDESIGN lamps were chosen as gifts for the guests during the EU-summit in Finland.
1999 Irina Pått and the Power of Light, ArturTV2, Finnish National Broadcasting Corporation
1998 Art goes to the Restaurant, Restaurant Maxill, Helsinki Festival week, Helsinki.
1996 Calendar publishing, Museum für Papier- und Buchkunst, Germany
1996- – Order work: Production of PRO CULTURA ESBO plaque and annual implementation
1997- 2002 ORNAMO Art and Design Finland; member of the representative body
1995- 1996 ORNAMO Art and Design Finland (TAIKO); member of the board
1994 Paper Art; TV –program on Chinese Fairchild Channel in connection to exhibition in
Toronto, Canada
1993 Calendar publishing, Medium Paper, Budapest, Hungary
1987 Participation in TVfilm; “Oilpainting for children”, FST, Finland
1970s-1980s Visual arts teacher in high school and upper secondary schools
Scholarships
2021 Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2019 Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2015 Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2010 Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2003 Art Council for Design; Quality Support for Design, Finland
2002 Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
2000 Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
1999 Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Finland
1999 Finnish State award for artistic work, Finland
1998 The Central Commitée for Art, Finland
1997 Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
1996 Swedish-Finnish Culture Foundation
1996 City of Espoo, Finland
1995 Finnish-Danish Culture Foundation
1995 Post of Denmark
1994 Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
1992 Svenska Kulturfonden, Finland
Awards
2015 ROPE-lamp, Honorary Mention, EcoDesign15 Exhibition, Habitare Furniture Fair, Helsinki
2008 A Dozen Journalists Award for ZERO lamp, Habitare Furniture Fair,Helsinki
2001 A Dozen Journalists Award for BOKSI lamp, Habitare Furniture Fair,Helsinki
1995 Cultural Award of the Year, City of Espoo, Finland
Memberships
ORNAMO Art and Design Finland
IAPMA (International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists)
NPH (Nordisk Pappershistorisk Förening)