Abstract
This article explores the role of glass as a medium in the fine arts rather than as a craft form. It includes a short history of glass as an art medium, the development of glass technologies and their application in the field of fine art. It reflects the distinctiveness of glass as a sculptural medium due to its optical properties and transparency; glass’s inherent characteristics create the unique possibility of using the space both outside and inside a solid object. This article, furthermore, demonstrates the importance of specific individuals in bringing glass as a fine art medium to the fore, in particular Adriano Berengo. Berengo proves exceptional in promoting glass in the field of fine arts and has been particularly effective in encouraging well-known artists to experiment with it as a medium. The article discusses the impact of his efforts to establish cooperation with great names from all over the world, from Ai Weiwei to Tony Cragg and from Jaume Plensa to César, who have passed through Adriano Berengo’s studio.
Highlights
The United Nations declared the year 2022 as the International Year of Glass (McDonald 2021). This presents an exciting opportunity to explore the uniqueness of glass as a fine art medium, why it has historically not been a popular medium and the possibilities it holds for the fine art world going forwards
We can already see the impact of the UN declaration, with Ireland already announcing an artist who uses glass as a medium, Niamh O’Malley, to represent them at the Venice Biennale (Niamh O’Malley to Represent Ireland at Venice Biennale 2021)
The experiences of industrial glass producers are important to artists: learnings from these highly technological environments can be applied creatively to glasswork in studios especially when sat beside partnerships with industry, which facilitate access to specialist equipment (Bialek 2017)
Summary
The United Nations declared the year 2022 as the International Year of Glass (McDonald 2021). We can already see the impact of the UN declaration, with Ireland already announcing an artist who uses glass as a medium, Niamh O’Malley, to represent them at the Venice Biennale (Niamh O’Malley to Represent Ireland at Venice Biennale 2021) This mainstreaming of glass within fine art represents an important step towards recognising the power that it can provide as a medium. An increasing number of artists are trying to use glass as a medium to create their sculptures, to a large extent, due to the optical properties and transparency of this material. H3oowf 1e4ver, the studio movement placed emphasis on artists as designers and makers, which had a major influence on limiting the use of glass in the fine arts. Itnhiasdddaiyti.oInn, atoddinitciroena,setothinecirnetaesrenathtieoninatleirmnpataicotnoafl Gimlapsasctrteossf,GBlearsesntrgeosso,rBgearneinsegdo ortghaenseiseexdhitbhietisoenesxinhicboiotipoenrsatiinoncowoiptherparteisotnigwiouitshmpuresestuimgisouinsclmuduisnegumthes SintactleuHdienrgmtihtaegeState MHuesremuimtagine SMt.uPseetuermsbiunrgSt(.RPuessteiar)s,btuhregM(Rusuesusmia)o, fthAertManudseDumesigonf AinrNt aenwdYDoreksiagnnditnheNew MueYvhvseiioeesllrnloeoekIpstxfnhgmahgoåtnilhreubaddinsigstesthtinahooirtnenfMhtistetMc,uhhyleeseeiwvelwlufiueeesnnmesregeewtåoihamnriforldatlSgusedetl,gonaxehhcspbMkesltyhohiiunnoreoesclyttmelhwhuuwe.edhmrIefeynfridaneigobnewlrmradiaSoscaertsarordt,ktscoteu,sokrnhbsbhsle.yyhiokiolownemwtchme.lleouIlar-bndnkjfeeynaodcborotdriwwtviehcenorealryrtatkoormtsrthissabse.httysedorwewiinvaeelohslllb,oi-shkpjeeanmcxsotehiwnvniobetntlioytabiforetttnhehinssee,tsdienfully rIencothginsisaerdticalseawfienewailrlt emxepdloiuremwthhryougglahsosu, tuhnilsitkoerym: taondyoosthoewr emwaitlelrpiarelss,ehnat sa nboritebf een hfiusltloyryreocof ggnlaisseswd oarska, fwinitehaertmmpehdaisuismonthirtosuagphpoluictahtiiosntosriyn: taortdaonsdo AwderwiainllopBreerseenngtoa’sbrief ihniflsutoernyceoof ngltahseswpoosrikti,own iotfhgelamsspahratsaiss oancointsteampppolircaartyiofinnseinarat.rt and Adriano Berengo’s influence on the position of glass art as a contemporary fine art
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