Edvin Öhrström
Encyclopedia
Karl Edvin Öhrström was a Swedish
sculptor and glass artist.
Öhrström grew up in Halmstad
, where his father worked at the railroad. He started to work as a railroad worker, he trained to become an art teacher at Tekniska skolan (current Konstfack
) in Stockholm
1925–1928, and at the sculptural department at the Royal University College of Fine Arts
1928–1931, with Carl Milles
and Nils Sjögren as teachers. In 1932, in Paris
, France
. From 1932 to 1957, he worked to months per year at Orrefors Glasbruk in Småland
. He often used the ariel technique, which he had invented together with the master Gustaf Bergkvist and the artist Vicke Lindstrand. Later, he worked at Lindshammars Glasbruk, where he developed his sculptures to prism
s of gemstone
colors that played with light reflections and refractions in the glass.
Edvin Öhrstrom won a contest
for the decoration of Sergels torg
in Stockholm, with a 37.5 metres high steel construction with 80 000 glass prisms, lit from within. This 130 tonnes heavy glass obelisk
, Kristallvertikalaccent, is made from steel and covered with glass from Lindshammars Glasbruk and was inaugurated in 1974. The light source is four lamps inside the obelisk.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
sculptor and glass artist.
Öhrström grew up in Halmstad
Halmstad
Halmstad is a port, university, industrial and recreational city at the mouth of Nissan in the province of Halland on the Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat of Halmstad Municipality and the capital of Halland County...
, where his father worked at the railroad. He started to work as a railroad worker, he trained to become an art teacher at Tekniska skolan (current Konstfack
Konstfack
Konstfack or University College of Arts, Crafts and Design is a university college for higher education in the area of art, crafts and design in Stockholm, Sweden.- History :...
) in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
1925–1928, and at the sculptural department at the Royal University College of Fine Arts
Royal University College of Fine Arts
The Royal Institute of Art is an institution in Stockholm, Sweden for higher education in art, founded in 1735. The school was part of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts, until 1978 when it was made independent. It is under the supervision of the Ministry of Education.-External links:*...
1928–1931, with Carl Milles
Carl Milles
Carl Milles was a Swedish sculptor, best known for his fountains. He was married to artist Olga Milles and brother to Ruth Milles and half brother to the architect Evert Milles...
and Nils Sjögren as teachers. In 1932, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. From 1932 to 1957, he worked to months per year at Orrefors Glasbruk in Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
. He often used the ariel technique, which he had invented together with the master Gustaf Bergkvist and the artist Vicke Lindstrand. Later, he worked at Lindshammars Glasbruk, where he developed his sculptures to prism
Prism (optics)
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. The exact angles between the surfaces depend on the application. The traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use...
s of gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
colors that played with light reflections and refractions in the glass.
Edvin Öhrstrom won a contest
Contest
A contest is an event in which at least two teams or individuals compete. There may be an award to a winner or awards for multiple top performers, but a contest may be imposed for training...
for the decoration of Sergels torg
Sergels Torg
Sergels torg is the most central public square in Stockholm, Sweden, named after 18th century sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel, whose workshop was once located north of the square.- Overview :...
in Stockholm, with a 37.5 metres high steel construction with 80 000 glass prisms, lit from within. This 130 tonnes heavy glass obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
, Kristallvertikalaccent, is made from steel and covered with glass from Lindshammars Glasbruk and was inaugurated in 1974. The light source is four lamps inside the obelisk.