Tegan Empson Cheeky 2011
“Cheeky” is a 630mm high black rabbit, with bright white eyes and a cute little smile; around its neck is a small red collar with coloured dots. Made from hot sculpted and fused blown glass this little bunny is one of a series of limited edition rabbits based on human emotions. Its rounded shape reflects a style similar to that of Japanese animated animal characters. These rabbits are not at all wild they are tamed, domesticated and friendly. I was so enamoured by these creations I could not stop thinking about them all week.
Kumiko Nakajima Jelly Block 2009
“Jelly block” are hot worked, cold formed glass block forms. They are translucent and stark; their bold colour draws the eye. These works are not entirely rectangular; they have been formed so as to encapsulate the eye. Our eye is taken through the semi-opaque form main form to the coloured blocks that lie inside; each reflects within itself, a wonderful tonal variation. The rear edges of each of these jelly like shapes are soft focused and ethereal. There is an honest purity associated with these works that reminds us of the beauty that can be found in simple forms.
Mandi King Self Containers 2011
Mandi King has with “Self Containers” explored the notion of what it means to hold something. Her shapes envelop each other and though they are rough ground and non-uniform they accentuate each other’s form. The coloured bowls fit together like the rings in a sliced onion; while the tall forms like telescopic towers. I enjoy looking at the surface; rough and textured they take on a powdered appearance that highlights apparent imperfections in the material. These forms evoke in me what the Japanese would refer to as Wabi-Sabi; simply stated, it is an aesthetic that celebrates the rustic simplicity of an object, its uniqueness as an entity in itself. It is an aesthetic that highlights three simple realities; nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect. In Mandi King’s work we are shown how such different and unique items might hold each other.
Brenden Scott French Tectonic Trace – Binary #2, 2011
“Tectonic Trace- Binary #2” is a kiln formed wall mounted glass piece that is composed of many horizontal planes resting on top of each other. Each line separates a series of shapes. This work fascinated me mainly because of its painterly nature. Each horizontal band is reminiscent of a horizon. The composition is pleasant and thought-provoking. Mottled skylines float above mountainous planes. The whole composition works because of the juxtaposition of opposite line; horizontal and vertical. Brenden Scott French’s compositions are beautiful because of their geometric complexity nestled upon simple lines.
Transparency is only open until the 25th of August. It celebrates the diversity of the artists who have hired the glass studio at the Jam Factory. This facility is the longest running open access glass studio in Australia and is a treasure to be discovered in the city of Adelaide.
*images courtesy of the JamFactory, Adelaide
