While researching for this write up, the one thing I realized is that in every ordinary object lies infinite beauty. A piece of plain old glass, which makes our windows or our crockery, in fact possesses a property called ‘Inflation’. What this basically means is that it has a liquid structure where its atoms are held together by strong chemical bonds in a disordered and random network and as skilled workers introduce some air to it, it expands and blows up!
The creativity of these workers, called glass-smiths or glass blowers curates outstanding objects that completely captivates one’s mind. So, today at TYS we have dug up five of these glass blowers and their mind-blowing (pun intended) glass blowing pieces.
1. WONDERLAND
Mika Aoki
Hailing from Japan, Mika Aoki has created an ice-like enchantment, where science met a fairy tale. Using the technique of glass blowing, in her series of works titled ‘Singing Glass’, the artist presented glass morphed into amoebic and otherworldly forms that leaves the viewer mesmerized. She believes that in any other medium, the pieces would lose their intrigue. This is because translucent glass on being illuminated is absolutely enthralling.
Unless light shines on it, we can’t confirm the existence of it because it is transparent. But once the light shines on it, glass truly emanates a special presence.
Aoki’s glasswork resembles biological specimens and systems. Her amoeba-like entities are displayed in clusters, as growths or adornments on a malfunctioning car, or in glass containers, as if they are specimens to be collected and studied. The other pieces that are not trapped within clear encasements echo the luminosity and sharp crystallization of ice.
Image Courtesy: Mika Aoki
2. SNEAK A PEEK
Graham Caldwell
Brooklyn-based Graham Caldwell derived inspiration from visual perception and how it constructs and destructs our external world for his works. Using blown glass, he is interested in the association between glass and the act of looking, be it through sunglasses or windows or even telescopes that let us take a peek into space.
Much of my work focuses on glass as a conduit or modulating agent for light and its parallel in the functionality of the human eye: using a lens to flip an image of the world, upside down and backwards, into the brain where it is reassembled, through illusion and forensics.
In his latest works ‘Compound Eye’ and ‘Before After’, he mostly uses blown glass, steel, epoxy, mirrors, and other materials to create these otherworldly sculptures.
Image Courtesy: Graham Caldwell
3. HARVEST’S HIVES
Judi Harvest
Born in Miami, Judi Harvest paid special attention to the natural realm to create wispy and delicate bee-hives in her “Bee Series”. Also a bee-keeper, Harvest found inspiration in the form and behavior of the honeybee, the hexagonal wax cells of the honeycomb, and the rounded volume of hives in nature, which are evident in her series.
Comprised of Murano glass and wire, each hive sculpture is naturalistic in color and realistically rendered. They have behind them a very intricate process requiring a great deal of skill. Each vessel begins with a hand-rolled cylinder of chicken wire and then glass is blown into the cylinder, protruding between the wires, and balloons delicately above the top. The hot surface is sprinkled with powdered glass pigment and the vessel is reinserted into the furnace creating a rough yet dainty texture that resembles a dusting of pollen.
Image Courtesy: Sweet Station
4. SKILL AND GLASS
Scott Bisson
It was in a high school chemistry lab when a seventeen year old Scott Bisson bent a glass tube over a flame, that he discovered his interest and a life time obsession in glass blowing. Scott has now been blowing glass for nineteen years and is currently represented in close to 80 galleries spanning the United States.
He often chooses to portray aquatic creatures or amphibians whose natural forms match well with the flowing qualities of the molten glass that he shapes and takes pride in working energetically and challenging himself.
If I don’t lose a piece a day from getting in over my head, then I am not pushing myself hard enough. Skill is the raw material of a great piece, and drive and energy make it take shape.
Image Courtesy: Twisted Swifter
5. ANATOMY AND GLASS
Farlow’s Scientific Glassblowing
Farlow’s Scientific Glassblowing have created a biology laboratory with their incredible handmade glass anatomical models. Most of their models replicate portions of the vascular system and can be filled with simulated blood to demonstrate blood flow. The models include joints that allow them to be combined to replicate an entire vascular system.
Employing the technique of glassblowing for creating these models, they are also used as teaching and demonstration tools for medical devices.
Image Courtesy: Farlo Sci
These artists have created a world so mesmerizing using the spectacular technique of glass-blowing that it has left our mouths open wide in fascination. We hope that they were able to stun you too with these mind-blowing creations!
