Teemu Salonen

Glass sculptor

A road less travelled

Teemu's artistic approach is unconventional
His artworks contradict and surprise
His principal material is fibreglass

Teemu Salonen considers himself a hermit, taking refuge in a small and serene village, a place where he can fully immerse himself in his work. After graduating as a carpenter, he continued his studies and became both an artisan and a designer. What drove him was a desire to master as many materials and techniques as possible. In turn, this has enabled him to think outside the box. Teemu learns the methods and then follows an unconventional path. He questions everything. In doing so, he ponders how he can create differently by reinterpreting the material and producing new and surprising forms. He calls his works “design jokes and straight-laced examples of craftsmanship”, they encapsulate the juxtaposition between tradition and innovation.

Interview

Do you remember when you chose this craft?: The first assignment of my studies was to build a cupboard using traditional methods. I decided to do a new version of it. Our teacher wasn’t too thrilled, but couldn’t fail me as I had applied the right techniques. That’s when I knew I wanted to design and produce unique objects.
What are your sources of inspiration?: Contradictions, everything tasteless, sarcasm, kitsch, insane memes, human impulses, music videos by Die Antwoord, fine dining, beer and piles of rubbish.
Do you master any specific techniques?: I’m accomplished at working with fibreglass. But perhaps my special skill is to master several techniques and materials and deploy them to execute crazy ideas. I am quick to learn, but also fast to get bored if things get too easy.
What do you love most about your profession?: The freedom to create whatever the imagination ignites. The opportunity to be inspired by the work of colleagues. The element of surprise, which comes with the uncertainty of an artistic life. Impulsiveness and working fluidly.

Teemu Salonen is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2004