By Honorary Reporter Fotini Chatzoudi from Greece
Photos = Annaliisa Alastalo

Finnish glass artist Annaliisa Alastalo said Korean porcelain has greatly influenced her works. She came to Korea in 2006 to visit her husband's homeland, and a trip that was supposed to last three years has turned into 16, as she now resides in Korea.

Annaliisa Alastalo says Korean porcelain has inspired her glass art.

In an email interview on July 10, she explained her background in glass art. "I enrolled in university to study ceramics, but our department dealt with both ceramics and glass. That was my introduction to the fascinating world of hot glass," she said. 

"After opening a glass studio in Korea with my husband, my love and passion for hot glass grew as my skills got more refined." Alastalo added. "I have a shared studio with my husband. Glassblowing requires teamwork, and I work together with him."

The Finnish artist and her Korean husband set up an art studio in Korea.

On what made her fall in love with traditional Korean porcelain, she said, "As a student, I fell in love with Korean celadon glaze. And I find the soft and refined outlines of traditional Korean pottery utterly comforting and attractive. I thought I could adjust this to glass work."

Turning to the process of glassblowing, she said, "Hot molten glass is gathered from the glass furnace on the end of a steel blow pipe and then inflated and shaped into the desired shape using various tools and colors. The artist must keep the blow pipe in constant motion. The finished piece is placed into an annealing kiln, where the glass cools slowly to room temperature."

The artist said she fell in love with Korean celadon glaze while a student.

About her job, she said she loves it when everything flows smoothly. Glass is a tricky material to master, she added, and requires many years of training. 

"I love the challenge the material gives me and the feeling that I'm in control of the glass is quite rewarding," Alastalo said. "The whole process of making a glass piece from creating a form to opening the annealing kiln and touching the glass piece with my bare hands makes my heart feel sparks." 

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.