Time for another artist post, and one who's approach I find most interesting.German Anna Mlasowsky has traveled to several different destinations and made the most of every opportunity that has crossed her path. This has also aided her in accomplishing fluency in several different languages.
Her work has a reasonably controversial origin. Whilst studying hot glass, she was (as we all are) informed of the proper techniques used to successfully achieve even gathering and blown bubbles, and instructed to use compatible glass so as to prevent stress and tension. Naturally she experienced some difficulty in achieving these goals straight away, but instead of learning how to not let slip ups happen again she decided to use these discoveries as the basis of her work. She learned how to refine and control types of glass movement that would usually be avoided, and developed new techniques based on what is traditionally seen as what not to do.
Her work has a reasonably controversial origin. Whilst studying hot glass, she was (as we all are) informed of the proper techniques used to successfully achieve even gathering and blown bubbles, and instructed to use compatible glass so as to prevent stress and tension. Naturally she experienced some difficulty in achieving these goals straight away, but instead of learning how to not let slip ups happen again she decided to use these discoveries as the basis of her work. She learned how to refine and control types of glass movement that would usually be avoided, and developed new techniques based on what is traditionally seen as what not to do.
"Tension" is based on stresses created between glass with different coefficients of expansion. Often when glasses which are not compatible with each other are used together, the stress created can cause the glass to crack or even explode. Mlasowsky experimented with many different types of non-compatible glass to find a match that would create stress but would not crack. Through using these different types of glass, she created small objects which look clear and plain to the naked eye. However when viewed through a polariscope, the stress present in the glass outlines the border between the two glasses, revealing a pattern.
This unique approach to finding new techniques is one that really appeals to me. It has a rebellious edge to it; she strays away completely from "the right way" and does things "wrong" deliberately. I have always had an interest in creating art with unexpected materials or by using methods which are perhaps not generic. I can relate to this idea in my hot glass practice, as I have quickly strayed away from making traditional vessels and found myself much more interested in less conventional ideas.
This unique approach to finding new techniques is one that really appeals to me. It has a rebellious edge to it; she strays away completely from "the right way" and does things "wrong" deliberately. I have always had an interest in creating art with unexpected materials or by using methods which are perhaps not generic. I can relate to this idea in my hot glass practice, as I have quickly strayed away from making traditional vessels and found myself much more interested in less conventional ideas.