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A new collection of glass work by Louis Thompson is on display at Vessel Gallery in London. Inspired by bonsai, ‘Enchanted Mori’ echoes this ancient horticultural practice and its artistic intention to create a higher level of aesthetic refinement.

With each posing the question ‘what is your preferred time of day?’, the works symbolise the transient periods that make up each 24-hour time frame. Inviting the viewer to contemplate and reflect, Thompson’s ambition is that, alongside the visual, an emotive response is experienced.

He states, “With the transition of light, day falls into night and we pass into the abyss of a new dawn. The sun, moon and stars form shadows, colouring our perception and creating an interplay between the negative and positive forms of nature, where harmony and balance coexist. This new body of work, Enchanted Mori, is for moments of contemplation, reflection and contentment.”

Louis Thompson has exhibited extensively in the UK, Europe, US and Japan. In 2012 he received two prestigious awards in the UK: British Glass Biennale Winner and the Jerwood Foundation Makers Commission.

He has created installations for museums and international exhibitions and his work is held in permanent museum collections in Belgium, Germany, Japan, Czech Republic, the US and the V&A in London.

He has completed international residencies at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, US, The Glazenhuis Museum in Belgium and most recently at Soneva Art Glass in the Maldives.

The ‘Enchanted Mori’ collection is on display until 17 November 2023

Find out more here.

Vessel Gallery is at 114 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2PW.

Image: A selection of pieces from the Enchanted Mori collection.

Members of the Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) are invited to submit glass work for the first CGS exhibition of 2024 – ‘Sparkle! A Spectrum of Contemporary Glass’ exhibition, taking place at Black Swan Arts in Frome, Somerset.

The exhibition will run from 19 January to 25 February 2024 in the centre’s Long Gallery. It is open to all CGS members at any stage of their career, but with an emphasis on CGS South West and Midlands members.

Celebrate the dazzling delight of glass in all its facets of light, colour and technique. The brief is as wide as you wish to make it and will be a true celebration of the diversity of contemporary glass. All work submitted must be for sale and both wall pieces and plinth-based work are accepted.

Artists can submit up to three pieces of work in one submission.  Although this is an open exhibition, it may be necessary to select only some of an artist’s pieces for inclusion in the final show, subject to the number of applications and the size and quantity of entries.

All work must comprise at least 50% glass and to have been made after January 2022 or made specifically for the exhibition.

A non-refundable administration fee of £25 will be charged per application.

Application deadline: 19 November 2023.

Black Swan Arts is at 2 Bridge Street, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BB.

If you would like to take part in the Sparkle exhibition, but are not yet a member of CGS, why not join now?

Find out more about the exhibition and apply here.

Sunderland’s place in the international network of artists working in glass is celebrated in a new exhibition at National Glass Centre (NGC), called ‘Glass World’.

The exhibition presents a range of objects created by artists from, or based, in countries ranging from Canada to New Zealand and Argentina to Japan.

Many of the exhibits have been made at NGC by international visiting artists, academics and graduates from University of Sunderland who have gone on to work in other countries.

Julia Stephenson, Head of Arts at NGC, said, “We’re delighted to be presenting an exhibition of work created by glass artists from such a wide range of countries. Many of the pieces have been created here in Sunderland, or the artists involved will have a connection with NGC.

“Glass World reflects NGC’s place within the global glass community and our networks. The exhibition is about internationalism rather than nationalism, so work is being shown in relation to the country where the artist’s practice has had the greatest influence, rather than just their country of birth or current residence.

“Some of the artists have strong connections with two or three countries – or even continents. For instance, Sam Herman was a pioneer of the Studio Glass movement in the United States, Britain and Australia and directly and indirectly influenced many of the next generation of artists working in glass.”

The artworks on display come from NGC’s own collection and many pieces reflect the characteristics of the glass produced in particular countries.

Julia explained, “There are geographic distinctions, such as the work of Göran Wärff of Sweden and Oiva Toikka of Finland, who both designed for production rather than focusing on one-off pieces – an established approach in both countries.

“Martin Janecký’s skill in sculpting hot glass reflects the Czech investment in glass education from an early age, while the pieces by Archimede Seguso stand as a monument to the skills in hot glass handed down over centuries on the island of Murano in Italy.”

Glass World is one of three exhibitions currently showing at NGC. The other two are The Bernard Lloyd Collection (some of which is included in Glass World) and a collection of work from University of Sunderland graduate Hassina Khan.

All three exhibitions are free and will be on display at NGC until 10 March 2024.

National Glass Centre (NGC) is at Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL, UK. For more information visit the website.

Image: Dale Chihuly’s ‘Blue Sea Form’ (1990) from the Bernard Lloyd Collection. Photo: David Williams