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Photo: Paavo Lehtonen
I am a sculptor from Nivala. I have studied at the University of Arts and Design (TAIK) in Helsinki in Arabia, specializing in glass and ceramics, and later in design at Aalto University in Espoo. I work and live in Helsinki.










MAIL           info@matiaskarsikas.com
INSTAGRAM               @matiaskarsikas

I am not currently taking on new commissions.




CURRENT EXHIBITION

Pohjola kukkii – The North Abloom
Pro Vitrea Prize Exhibition

The Finnish Glass Museum, Riihimäki
5.10.2024 – 31.12.2024






Art

Art is for me a poetic way to perceive reality. It is my own language, a means of communication. I aim to express phenomena through it that couldn't be conveyed in any other way. Behind the driving force and professional motivation lies excitement. It's a kind of reverse déjà vu feeling. I feel like I'm heading in the right direction when my work feels completely new and exciting, something I can't yet grasp or understand in the initial stages, but something that makes my heart beat. In a world created by the human mind, where everything can be named and categorized, making art offers a unique opportunity to explore new territories. The evolution of my works is important; they must evolve over time, avoiding repetition and stagnation. When the audience becomes accustomed to my works, I feel the need to innovate.

Ceramics and Glass

Working with ceramics and glass feels like home rather than work. These are materials I want to spend all my spare time with. Ceramics enchant me repeatedly with their versatility. Exploring ceramics feels like navigating through complex terrain filled with endless possibilities. Glass and ceramics have an almost magical feeling to me. Opening a ceramic kiln or working with glass blowing often fills me with wonder. Sometimes working feels like playing make-believe as an alchemist when plain earth transforms into gold, the glow of emerald, and bubbling glass.

Methods

The cornerstone of my work is utilizing my own methods in constructing my pieces. I strive to develop methods that are challenging, time-consuming, and complex. Themes are often communal in the art world. The repetition of certain themes among artists of the same era suggests that art is not introspective. We inhabit the same world and observe shared phenomena reflected in our art. I embrace these shared themes and material traditions with other artists. I aim to stand out in my work with my own methods, which form my signature.


Nature

Nature as a theme is evident in my works. I strongly believe that art created by humans primarily reflects the inner world of the artist rather than just the chosen subject. Hence, the posthumanist idea of shifting perspectives intrigues me. Is it possible to create art from a non-human perspective? I have explored this by listening to the material and allowing it to express itself. Nevertheless, I have harnessed all these qualities and realized my own visions with them. Though I strive to give space to the material, I don't believe I can completely remove the human perspective from art, even when I aim to explore nature from its own perspective. While flowers are a typical decorative motif in my works, I don't directly pick them from nature as models. Instead, in urban environments, my gaze often turns upwards, examining nature-themed ornamental facades of old buildings. Similarly, I draw inspiration for my works by exploring flower motifs from ancient textiles in national museums.
Colors and materials
Colors have always been at the center of my works, especially experimenting with color combinations. Rather than seeking beautiful and elegant color combinations, I constantly challenge the generally accepted harmony of colors. Using clear glass and platinum-coated ceramics as materials brings two completely new dimensions to the color palette. Clear glass allows light to flow through, while the reflective platinum surface reflects it back entirely. I don't think in terms of material hierarchy when constructing works. Glass, gold, and platinum seeping from wood found in the forest, untouched and untreated, contain a delicacy that would otherwise remain hidden.





   EDUCATION
2009–2018

Aalto university school
of arts and design,
ceramics and glass arts

2005–2009
Tammerkoski Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts




   AWARDS  

2020
Young Designer of the Year

2023
Pro Vitrea Award



   ASSOCIATIONS

The Association of Finnish Sculptors



   SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024
Pohjola Kukkii – The North Abloom
Pro Vitrea Prize Exhibition
The Finnish Glass  Museum,  Riihimäki

2023
Keraamiset kukat eivät kuihdu
KWUM, Fiskars

2022
Lasimetsä, The Finnish Glass Museum
Riihimäki

2021–2022
Carte blanche à Matias Karsikas
Institut Finlandais, Pariisi

2020
Young designer of the year 2020
WeeGee, Espoo

2018
Mesi, Lokal,
Helsinki

2012
Robots, Napa Galleria
Helsinki




   UPCOMING SOLO
EXHIBITIONS




2024
Pro Vitrea award -exhibition
The Finnish Glass Museum,
Riihimäki

   GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024
Keväthymni, Lokal, Helsinki

2023
Glass Finlandia Des années
Halle du Verre, Claret

2023
Koos Gallery, Tallinn

2022
Särkyvää - Keramiikka uuden äärellä
EMMA - Espoo Museum of Modern Art

2022
Haiharan parat – kuvanveiston hahmot
Haiharan kartano, Tampere

2022
CURRENT, Lokal, Helsinki

2021
Kantava Maa, Väre, Espoo

2021
On the Edge – Äärellä, Korundi, Rovaniemi

2021
Shigaraki, Lokal, Helsinki

2020
Miniatyr Keramik, Lokal, Helsinki

2020
Ceramega, Voipaalan taidekeskus,
Valkeakoski

2020
Hyvissä Käsissä, Design museo,
Helsinki

2019
Ripples, Antonia Hamberg kotinäyttely, Helsinki

2019
The Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art Shigaraki

2019
CHART, Copenhagen

2019
Linnankatu 13, Savonlinna

2019
Japanese Design Today 100, Kansallismuseo Helsinki

2019
Coming Home, Lokal, Helsinki

2018
Desing Miami, Miami

2018
Linnankatu 13, Savonlinna

2018
Uniikki, Helsinki

2018
Bonk, Pyhäniemen kartano, Hollola

2018
European Ceramic Context, Grønbechs Gård Bornholm



   GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018
CHART,  Copenhagen

2018
Lokal, Helsinki

2018
About Clay, Fiskars

2017
Satumetsä, Lokal, Helsinki

2017
Kotona XII Juhlat, Fiskars

2016
Behind the seen, Porvoon taidehalli, Porvoo

2016
NEW FINNISH FASHION, Finlands institutet Tukholma

2016
Respiration Inspiration, Institut finlandais, Paris

2016
Kohtaamisia, Platonin Akatemia, Tuusula

2015
Bloom, Lokal, Helsinki

2015
Muotogaala, ruokaa taiteella, Helsinki

2014
Animal, Lokal, Helsinki

2014
Art Week Helsinki, Helsinki

2014
Keramiikka tilassa – Keramiikan tila, Design Museum, Helsinki

2014
European Ceramic context

2014
Grønbechs Gård, Bornholm

2013
Samasta, Galleria Arabia, Helsinki

2013
Wonderland, London Design
Festival, London

2013
NORDIC PASSION, Seoul Museum of Art
Seoul

2013
Art Exposed, Helsinki

2013
Norther, Ventura Lambrate, Milano

2012
Art Exposed, Helsinki

2012
CLAYDROIDTRILOGY, Gallery
Atski, Helsinki

2011
Uunituoretta, LB Gallery, Helsinki


   RESIDENCIES

2021 
April, Paris

2021 
September, Paris

2017 
Autumn, Shigaraki, Japan

2018, 
Spring , Jingdezhen,  China




   MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
AND OTHER COLLECTIONS



EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art

Designmuseum, Helsinki 

The Finnish State Art Commission

KWUM

Lahti City Hall







info@matiaskarsikas.com