Dale Chihuly - Summer Sun
'I want my work to appear like it came from nature, so that if someone found it on a beach or in the forest, they might think it belonged there.' - Dale Chihuly
I undertook a much needed visit to one of London's essential green lungs - Kew Gardens on a beautiful English summer day to see the current exhibit of celebrated glass designer Dale Chihuly. It was a revelation. There was some stunning work inspired by Nature which seemed to sit perfectly in the garden environment.
Sapphire Star
Lime Crystal Tower
Chihuly: Reflections on Nature, The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art
The Chihuly pieces on display in the gallery at Kew were particularly wonderful.
The Chihuly pieces on display in the gallery at Kew were particularly wonderful.
'I began to replicate the wavering, woven forms of traditional Northwest coast Indian baskets in glass after seeing the collection at the Washington State Historical Society in 1977. The stacked and collapsing woven baskets led me to group my Baskets together into sets. Originally they were earth-toned and red; later, we experimented with more exuberant colour.' - Dale Chihuly
'I use glass-thread drawings inspired by Native American textiles on the sides of my Cylinders. Carefully laid out in an intricate design, colourful threads are fused onto the vessel while it is in its molten stage. This is known as the "glass pick-up drawing" technique.' - Dale Chihuly
The mark-making on this series of pieces in particular really struck me, reminding me of the work of Oscar Murillo (here).
I enjoyed seeing the looseness of Chihuly's drawings and the initial design and thought processes for his three-dimensional glass pieces.
After the intimacy of Chihuly's smaller pieces in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery it was back out into the open air and glorious sunshine. It was a treat to see Kew's restored Pagoda and its fearsome, protective dragons.
Just past the Pagoda I encountered these vividly coloured spheres looking like a constellation of planets entitled the Niijima Floats in the Zen-like gravel garden of the Japanese Gateway. They were very reminiscent (albeit on a smaller scale) of Alicia Kwade's - Pars Pro Toto seen in Copenhagen earlier this year (here).
A further leisurely stroll through the gardens in the sunshine taking in the abundance and variety of trees and plants brought me to the Temperate House where I encountered this huge artwork entitled Persian Column, created specially for this space. The other botanically inspired glassworks nestled amongst the glasshouse greenery were equally as mysterious and impressive, looking like invading alien species and Triffids.
Nature seemed just a little weirder though...
Back outside this sculpture above was one of a pair situated just outside the Temperate House and was a visually impressive collection of tendrils and tentacles. I wanted to know how they are all held together. Below is one side of an avenue of Cattails and Copper Birch Reeds.
Neodymium Reeds and Turquoise Marlins above, and the amazing, huge Scarlet and Yellow Icicle Tower below.
An untitled surreal, dream-like installation in a hedge with Chihuy's Red Reeds below.
Nothing prepares you for the awesome visual treat that is the Ethereal White Persian Pond in the Waterlily House. As good as the other pieces are, it is this installation that definately has the wow factor. Chihuly's waterlilies have the milky opalescence of the work of that other renowned glassmaker Rene Lalique, and they sit beautifully with the natural lilypads and lotus flowers to create an immersive installation.
Emerging once again outside in the gardens I was met by a vibrant collection of Paintbrushes, below, in a flowerbed, and the gorgeous, chaotic, tangled mass of Summer Sun to conclude the Chihuly glass exhibition trail. This really is a fabulous exhibition that is worth seeing, and a great day out in the greenery of Kew Gardens.
Chihuly: Reflections on Nature
until 27th October
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Kew
Richmond
London
