Pekka and Sirkka Paikkari

Pekka Paikkari (Finnish, b. 1960) is a Helsinki-based ceramic artist renowned primarily for his large-scale wall sculptures, unique objects, and versatile utility ware, and monumental public installations. Using clay as his primary material, Pekkari’s works blur the lines between fine art, design, and traditional craft. His expert use of the medium provides enigmatic imagery creating an analogy for both the human condition–displaying great strength and fragility in equal measure–as well as the passing of time registering as either permanent and ever-evolving, or ephemeral. Paikkari has made a thorough study of the technical properties of clay and employees in evocative ways. For instance, he developed a unique technique for drying clay. Although the web-like, fractured surface of dried clay is the outcome of a natural process, the artist controls it in order to obtain the desired pattern. Only then are the clay elements fired in the kiln. The process could be described as controlled chaos.

Paikkari studied at the Kuopio Academy of Handicrafts and Industrial Design and has been a member of the Arabia Art Department Society since 1983. His work is included in many prestigious museum collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Ceramics Museum of Barcelona, and the Shigaraki Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art in Japan among others.

Art Weaver and Cultural Producer Sirkka Paikkari (Finnish, b.1954) is a developer of the Loomster. Weaving Device. Metal framed three meters wide and three meters high device make possible to weave individual wall hangings and large scale rya rugs. All Combinations with Stainless steel Wire, Optic fibers, Rubber and more traditional materials like Linen, Cotton and Rattan are possible to weave together with the device. 

Sirkka Paikkari's way of working with artists, has always been closely involved in participating in a specific art project. Large scale art textiles require a variety of visionary and technical skills, experience and know-how and her role has been an invaluable part of the successful outcome of the final work. Public textile works must be durable and practical. In the case of large works of art, the details of installation and technology must often also be taken into account. To this challenge, Sirkka Paikkari's product development work has been incomparable to textile art. 

Since 1986 Sirkka Paikkari has been working with her own unique woven textile art and cooperating at same time with many artists like Glass Artist Oiva Toikka, Designer Harri Koskinen, Ceramic Artist Pekka Paikkari, Textile Artists Ritva Puotila and Irma Kukkasjärvi among many others. 

For the last ten years, Sirkka Paikkari has been cooperating with Ceramic Artist Margaret O`Rorke from England. Together, they have designed and manufactured large-sized Chandeliers that combines Optical fiber, hand-woven Brass, Stainless steel wire, and translucent Porcelain.