“ I like when the glass has a content — when it can be alluring from one angle , but then something else when you turn it or move in the room ”, Göran Wärff said . “ There are endless options in the glassworks . Then when the piece is cold and finished , a new world awaits to explore in the grindery .”
Göran Wärff
Göran Wärff ( 1933-2022 ) was a doyen of Kosta Boda and the entire Kingdom of Crystal – a legend who was connected to our history and who was part of shaping the Swedish glass tradition for more than 60 years .
Göran Wärff was born and raised in Slite on the island of Gotland , where he as a boy set out to sea with the sea pilot . After living partly abroad , in Australia and England , he returned to the island in the latter part of his life , where he lived with his wife Lena in Hau farm by scenic Ar stone beach on the island ’ s northwestern cape . The Gotland scenery animated Göran ’ s glass art , in which the sea was always the main source of inspiration . The endlessness of the ocean is reflected in his glass . Movement inside the glass , the optical effects , are the core in Göran ’ s glass art . He worked with the body of the glass as no one else today . He never added anything , always allowing the glass to live its own life with the colors .
Göran Wärff started working as a designer for Pukeberg in 1958 , where his design talent was discovered when he worked as an apprentice while studying architecture in Germany . “ That became my university ”, said Göran . “ I became interested in the technical aspects of the craft . It was there that I could experiment with various techniques until I found that primal soul of the glass .”
From Pukeberg , Wärff was recruited to Kosta Boda , where he worked from 1964 . At the time , the company ’ s artistic leader of the time was legend Vicke Lindstrand . “ But his ideals were too traditional for my taste ”, Göran said . “ The kinship with the Boda glassworks and Erik Höglund expressed something different .”
The constant presence of nature in Göran Wärff ’ s glass art is an obvious quality . “ But it ’ s easy to say nature , and it ’ s not always obvious ”, Göran said . “ It ’ s interesting with the parallel processes of growth and decay . The sea and the light as well of course , it ’ s there .”
A hallmark for Göran Wärff ’ s glass art is that his objects frequently offer additional optic experiences not obvious in the first impression , like light phenomenons or treasures glimmering from the depths of the sea .
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