Takamaka Opal, an Aqua, Red & Orange Glass Sculpture by Sandra A. Fuchs
By Sandra A. Fuchs
Located in London, GB
'Takamaka Opal', is a unique glass sculpture by the Austrian artist Sandra A. Fuchs, created in aqua, deep red and vibrant orange glass. Fuchs creates her own multi-colored and complex glass canes, which are then cut to create small 'murrina'. These she composes to create her flat sheet 'canvas' glass artworks, which are fired again, to fuse the pieces together. The detail is breathtaking and testament to these labour intensive unique works. The dimensions above are for the glass panel and European Walnut wood base.
Sandra A. Fuchs lives and works in Mautern, a small town located on the Danube within the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Austria and in Murano, Italy.
Specializing in the areas of cold working, fusing and flameworking, Fuchs has undertaken additional advanced training for glassblowing at the Technical College of Glass for Design and Craft (Kramsach, Tyrol, Austria) Abate Zanetti (Scuola del Vetro, Murano, Italy) and at Cam Ocagi (The Glass Furnace Istanbul, Turkey). Her artistic approach and style has also been developed through attending numerous master classes with artists predominantly from Italy and the USA. Since 2014 and after much time abroad, Fuchs is now focused on working exclusively as an independent glass artist in her own studio.
Fuchs’ artworks share a common ‘spirit’ and ‘organic’ aesthetic. The themes which run through her pieces are inspired by the beauty and power of nature; of rising, elevating and growth, which she also interprets from a spiritual influence. She feels creativity and vision are born by traveling, connecting with people from around the world and through cultural exchange.
Her signature fused panels have an inner life which is captured in dense and complex patterns which are formed from many unique pieces of ‘murrine’, which Fuchs designs and makes by herself. Traditionally ‘murrine’ all possess the same pattern, however by employing a different kiln formed technique, Fuchs makes each ‘murrina’ unique by having more control during the stretching process whilst working with her hot molten glass.
With her blown art works, Fuchs combines this new special manufacturing technique of 'kiln formed murrine’ (which has only been in existence since 1992) with centuries old traditional Muranese glassblowing knowledge, resulting in pieces that are the only ones of their kind worldwide.
In the artist’s own words;
"Offering me every possible way to express myself, glass became my ‘partner in crime...
Category
2010s British Organic Modern Murrine Furniture
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass, Murrine, Walnut
