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Jakowleff is known as a glass artist, but she has also innovated the form concrete, a way to implement three-dimensional and decorative surfaces in concrete. The solution is based on using a fabric, and it enables individual surfaces to be made even in serial production. The new technology is experimental and its first implementation was completed last year in the Kangas residential area in Jyväskylä.

"There is a need for artists like Renata Jakowleff in the country of crumbling concrete structures. She has taken on concrete, that has a bad reputation, and bent it into new dimensions. In her hands, dull, hard, rigid and gray concrete is suddenly a sexy eye-catcher", said journalist Sami Sykkö, who chose the Ornamo Prize winner this year.

Sykkö stated that often a designer, a graphic artist or an artist capable of crossing borders, such as Jakowleff, is needed to come up with something that has not been thought of by anyone else. "Jakowleff is a great example of how artists can break their own borders and work together with industry. Form concrete demonstrates the importance and benefits of education."

Artist and Designer

The glass work "Blue" by Renata Jakowleff (born 1974), is part of the Aalto University Art Collection and is featured in Dipoli. Jakowleff graduated in 2005 as Master of Arts from the Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture, the former School of Art and Design.

According to Jakowleff, art and design are not far apart. "Their difference is in the number of compromises. In art I’m lead by the feeling, passion and intuition. I can not compromise there. Design is different, it is for the customer, and my job is to make a general tool. It is necessary to take into account the other people and compromise. "

"With regard to education, I would like to say that one can never know in advance what the area is from which a new idea can emerge, that can reach far. It is important to enable useless, crazy, marginal and purpose-free platforms, which will create something that we can not even imagine, "Jakowleff stressed in her speech.

"Renata Jakowleff's multidisciplinary and artistic career is a good example of the fact that it is essential to educate the right mindset regardless of the field. Our goal is to create game changers in Aalto University. People who have the drive and skills to change the world", said Anna Valtonen, the Dean of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

Jakowleff has been active in international exhibitions, fairs and competitions, and has had numerous private exhibitions. Her works are in the collections of the State Museum and the Finnish Glass Museum and in foreign private collections.

The Ornamo Prize is EUR 5 000 and was given by Ornamo, the expert organization for designers at the Design Day 26 April at Aalto University. In addition to Jakowleff, there were other Aalto University alumni as nominees: Interior Architect Martti Lukander and Muka va clothing brand Anna Mattelmäki together with Emilia Kiialainen.
 

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