GLASS ISHIHARA

The initial inspiration for the Glass Ishihara series was a simple question - “Why do we see colour?”. As Isaac Newton observed, colour is not inherent in objects, rather, the surface of the object reflects some colours and absorbs others. Once the light enters the human eye, the eye and brain work together to translate light into colour using light receptors in the eye that transmit messages to the brain. The brain then produces the sensation of colour.

Everyone sees colour differently and this is due to the quantity or type of cone cells, as well as the wavelength sensitive photoreceptors, found in the retina at the back of our eyes. There are several eye colour tests and the one test I found the most visually interesting is The Ishihara Test.

This test consists of 38 Ishihara plates, each of which depicts a solid circle of coloured dots appearing randomised in colour and size. Within the pattern are dots which form a number or shape clearly visible to those with normal colour vision, and invisible, or difficult to see, to those with a red-green colour vision defect.

With the Glass Ishihara series, I wanted to explore the experience of seeing pure colour using glass and incorporate Colour Theory into each work. As I have been developing the glass colour mixes and observing how they interact in the kiln firing process, I have taken inspiration from the colours of the changing seasons and tonal changes seen in the sky throughout the day.

SUPERPOSITION

Superposition: the action of placing one thing on or above another, especially so that they coincide.

The Superposition series is a selection of free-standing glass sculptures exploring the transparent nature of fused glass when each individual layer is placed upon another. These translucent, almost unreal sculptures look like they should be as light as a feather or as sweet as sugar. The interaction with light in both the inner and outer surface is delicately beautiful, at times reflecting the colours around the piece to channelling the light through the centre.

The Superposition series has been evolving since 2021. The initial inspiration came from a desire to combine my sculpture training with my glass knowledge, explore colour using the qualities of glass and interpret the term ‘rough around the edges’. I have also chosen to use geometric shapes, from circles to hexagons, as they reoccur throughout the natural world.

Initially I created all Superposition series in clear glass as I wanted to explore the transparent nature of crystal-clear glass. I fired each layer of glass to the temperature that holds the glass droplet texture. Each glass droplet reflects, refracts, and diffuses light, so when each layer of glass is placed on top of another, the light is no longer able to pass though clearly, creating works that look almost opaque. This process creates an almost unreal series of sculptures. The pieces have been likened to bubbles, raindrops, ice, and sugar.

As the series evolved, I began incorporating colour. The Superposition series became the perfect vehicle for exploring colour mixing in a three-dimensional format. I used my knowledge of colour theory and art history to create colour combinations that look like a detailed view of pointillist painting or a pixilated image.