katerina krotenko presents wood textured glass at milan design week 2021

at milan design week 2021, artist and designer katerina krotenko presents a collection of glass vessels called ‘shaped by fire’. the project uses a finnish wood imprint technique from the 1960s to achieve beautifully organic textures and shapes. by invitation from the curatorial team, shaped by fire is on view at the makers show at supersalone from september 5-10. 

images courtesy of katerina krotenko

with shaped by fire, katerina krotenko experiments with wood and glassblowing to explore movement in time, cultural synthesis, and aesthetic metamorphosis. the objects are shaped by wooden molds, which change continuously during the glassblowing process, making the final pieces appear to have grown from the earth.

the pieces are handcrafted in finland

at the makers show of supersalone during milan design week, among the pieces from the earlier collections of shaped by fire, katerina krotenko debuts the ‘drago’ collection that explores the concept of a treasury. her sculptural glassware aims to show the power handcrafted objects have to reflect the value of living materials and to contain personal sentiments.

the glass vessels display organic shapes and textures

while burning during the glassblowing process, the wooden mold changes continuously, resulting in a unique shape and surface of each piece

the wooden mold informs the final shape

the ‘drago’ pieces are named after a slavic word meaning beloved, precious

the ‘drago’ collection explores the concept of a treasury

the project is inspired by the form-making of nature

each object is unique

mold making, hot work, cold work: by the artist herself

hot work, mouth blowing into a wooden mold: by master glassblowers

the glassware is on view at the makers show of supersalone during milan design week 2021

project info:

name: shaped by fire
designer: katerina krotenko

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom