In English

Helena Vaari

I am a textile designer and an artist of arts and crafts.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I am a textile designer and an artist of arts and crafts. I design and sew works of textile art for both private residence and public premises. Textiles for Churches are my specialities. I take part on exhibitions and have ones of my own.

My techniques are application, free machine embroidery and textile collage. I call it painting by sewing machine. The yarns are my colours and the needle is my brush.

The tiny yarns have special power. The yarn is three-dimensional, it has the twist and the beautiful shine. When I sew hundreds of tiny twisted yarns together, the power and the three-dimensional effect of the yarns will strengthen.

The picture is very lively, when the light reflects from the yarns and gives power to the whole works.

My ideas come from nature, water, summer, joy of life, children, garden, flowers or just everyday life´s things. I am very interested in folds of the clothes, shadows and lights. I want to represent fabric by fabric; to sew pictures where human is wearing shirts and coats and to see the three-dimensional movement of the fabrics by painting sewing machine.

I want to share the feelings of joy and beauty through my works to people. I consider top class quality very important in my designs and works of textile art.

I have my own design company, called Textile Design Helena Vaari-Silventoinen, studio is next to my home.

Ecclesiastical Textiles

Helena Vaari also designs ecclesiastical textiles, where the symbols and stories make an essential element. A leaf, for example, symbolizes the beginning of new life. These symbols come from the Bible. Each church is one of the kind and therefore these textiles are unique taking into consideration the architecture and the interior of the church.

Textile turner into paintings

Helena Vaari’s techniques of making art are application, machine embroidery and textile collage. She calls it painting by a sewing machine. The yarns are her colours and the needle is her brush. This technique is unique in Finland.

She is very interested in the folds of the cloth, its shadows and light. She wants to represent fabric by fabric; to sew pictures with people wearing shirts and coats and to see the three-dimensional movement of the fabric.

The tiny yarns have special power. The yarn is three-dimensional; it has twists and a beautiful shine. When hundreds of tiny twisted yarns are sewn together, the power and the three-dimensional effect will strengthen. The picture becomes very lively, when the light reflects from the yarns and gives power to the whole work.

When the viewers are looking at these unique works of art, they can make their own interpretations. The artist simply wants to bring beauty and joy of life into people’s minds.

C.V

Birthdate and Place
18.7.1963,  Koski HL , Finland

Family
Married; husband Hannu Silventoinen M.Sc. (Eng) children: 2 boys (-91/-93) and a girl (-95)

I have my own Design Company, called Textile Design Helena Vaari-Silventoinen,
next to my home. My artist name is Helena Vaari.
Address: Kylvötie 6, 15860 Hollola, Finland.
+ 358 50 384 7071,   helena.vaari@phnet.fi     www.helenavaari.fi

Education, Grants and Prizes

 
Kuopio Academy of Design, Textile Design Department 1987 (3 years)
School of Arts and Crafs in Hollola 1985 (2 years)
Marticular Examination, Hollola 1982
Textile Designers, The Finnish Association of Design ORNAMO, Member since 1991
Artists O, Ornamo, Member 2006
   
Finnish Artists Association, Member 2010
   
Grant by the Finnish Cultural Foundation 1998
Grant by Greta and William Lehtinen Foundation 2009
Grant by the Cultural Commission of Häme 2009
Grant by the Finnish Central Commission of Arts 2009
Grant by the Cultural Commission of Häme 2010
Grant by the Finnish Design Council 2011
Grant by the Cultural Commission of Häme

Grant by the Finnish Design Council

Cultural Prize 2012 by Arts Council of Häme

Berlin Residence by Arts Council of Häme

Grant by Arts Council of Häme

Grant by Artists´ Organisation of Lahti

Grant by the Finnish Design Council

Grant by the Cultural Commission of Häme

Grant by Artists Society of Lahti

The Businesswoman of the Year in Lahti

Grant by the Cultural Commission of Päijät-Häme

2012

2012

2012

2013

2014

2014

2016

2016

2017

2018

2018

Exhibitions (solos and collective)

 
Needle is brush, Wanha Meijeri, Sastamala

Needle is brush for 30 years, Galleria Nuovo, Lahti

Christian Cultural Society in Lahti  

Cento Cultural Light, Rio de Janeiro, AVA Galleria & Kuklinski Art

Exhibition and media by Helsingin Sanomat, Helsinki  

Narrative, the 10th TEXO triennale of the textile art Thread, Rydals Museum, Sweden

Art Lahti 2017

AVA Galleria, Art and Coffee, The Corinthian, New York

AVA Galleria, Art and Coffee, United Nations Headquarters, New York

Narrative, the 10th TEXO triennale of the textile art Thread, Vapriikki, Tampere 

Art Center Salmela, Mäntyharju

Galleia Espacio, Benalmadena, Spain (own exhibition)

Ars Kalmari, Vääksy

Cafe Vanha, Helsinki

Gallery Fogga, Helsinki

The White Shirt, The Culture Centre in Espoo (own exhibition)

Design Night Festival, Tallin

ARTHÄME, Lahti, jury

ARTHELSINKI, Habitare Fair in Helsinki

EUNIQUE 2012 art and craft – fair, Karslruhe, Germany, jury

2018

2017

2016,2017

2017

2017

2017

2017

2016-17

2017

2016-17

2015

2014

2013, 2014

2013

2013

2013

2012

2012

2012

2012

Gallery Putka, Savonlinna Opera Festival 2012
The White Shirt, Muotohuoltamo, Lahti, WDC Helsinki 2012, jury 2012
Gallery Aila Seppälä, Lahti 2012
Gallery Dix, own exhibition, Helsinki 2011
Gallery Pinna, own exhibition, Savonlinna, jury 2011
Artists Association, Lahti, jury 2011
Zoom, Gallery Aila Seppälä, Lahti 2010
Art in Action, Oxford, Britain, jury 2010
Origin 2009, The London Craft Fair, Britain, jury 2009
Eye of the needle, own exhibition, Helsinki 2009
Eye of the needle, own exhibition, Art&Book Gallery, Porvoo 2009
It is beautiful here, international textile exhibition, jury,  Fiskars 2009
Art Embroidery – Still Life, France, Netherlands, Sweden, jury 2008-2009
Manor of Jokela, Gallerie Oljemark, Hämeenkoski, jury 2008
Art Salon Piirto, Helsinki, own exhibition 2008
Art and Antique Fairs, own stand, in many towns 2007-2008
Gardenia-Helsinki, own exhibition 2007
Pfaff Art Embroidery/Still Life, London, jury 2007
Galleria Muu, Helsinki, jury 2007
Art Center Ihana, America!, Heinola, jury 2007
Mikael Agricola, Secco, jury 2007
Pellavaloukku, Hämeenkoski, own exhibition 2007
Gallery Plataani, Helsinki 2006-2007
Galleria Norsu, Helsinki 2006-2007
Pellavaloukku, Hämeenkoski, own exhibition 2006
Textile artists TEXO´s 50 th Anniversary mini art textile exhibition, Helsinki, jury 2006
The Manor of Pyhäniemi, Hollola, jury 2003
A Dream of Light, Scarves designed by Marja Kurki´s desingers, Helsinki 2001
Find, Helsinki, the City of European culture, jury 2000
90´ METRI-exhibition, The Gallery of Amer, Ornamo, Helsinki, jury 1991
Finnish Design 90´, Design Forum, Helsinki, jury 1990
Arts and Carfts, ARTENO ry, Helsinki, jury 1988

Works in Churches and Chapels

 
The Christening Tree, the Church of Vihti

The Chapel of Luomaniemi, Nastola, Ecclesiastical Textiles

The gown, the stolas and the mitre to the Bishop of Kuopio

The gown, the stolas and the mitre to the Bishop of Helsinki

The Christening Tree, the Church of Lappee, Lappeenranta

The Church of Henric, Pyhtää, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series

The Church of Hämeenkoski, Ecclesiastical Textiles, white and violet series

The Catafalque cloth, the Chapel of Living Water, Järvenpää

The church of Maria, Lappee, Lappeenranta, Ecclesiastical Tectiles, all series

The church of Maria, Hamina, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series

The gown, the stola and the headdress to the Bishop of Mikkeli

2018

2018

2018

2017

2017

2014-18

2014-2018

2016

2014-

2012-14

2010

The church of Siuntio, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series 2008-2012
The church of Hollola, Ecclesiastical Textiles, black serie 2008
The church of Paulus, Helsinki, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series 2003-2006
The church of Hämeenkoski, Ecclesiastical Textiles, two series 2003-2007
The church of Paulus, The Chapel, Works of Textiles Art 2005
The Hietaniemi Crematorium, The small Chapel 2005
Series of stolas ´´Ego Sum´´, the Church Resources Agency, Sacrum, Helsinki 1998-
The gown, the stola and the headdress to the Bishop of Namibia, Apollos Kaulinge 1996
The church of Joutjärvi, Lahti, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series 1991-1995
The church of Padasjoki, Padasjoki, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series 1989-1993
The church of Salpausselkä, Lahti, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series 1989-1991
The church of Hollola, Hollola, Ecclesiastical Textiles, all series 1986-89, 1995-96

Work Experience

 
Marja Kurki Oy, designer of ties and scarves 1998-2002
Free lancer designer. During these years were born my three children. 1991-1998
Sellgren Ltd, Orimattila, Industrial Designer of Fabrics 1987-1991
 

News

Helena Vaari´s exhibitions 2018

Needle is brush    3.-31.8.2018

Kulttuurikeskus Wanha Meijeri, Sastamala.

www.annelikeinonen.fi

 

Contact

Textile Artist Helena Vaari
Kylvötie 6, 15860 Hollola, Finland
+ 358 50 384 7071
helena.vaari(at)phnet.fi
www.helenavaari.fi

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