Bronwyn Sargeson – 'Fibromama', 2023

These works consider the blown glass form as a vessel to contain inner material disruptions. In a parallel manner to the human body undergoing medical intervention, these works explore the effects of external materials being embedded into the blown glass form. These foreign materials create imperfections in the glass, threatening to disrupt the form but contained in the added layers of glass. These layers of glass act as the skin of the glass body, revealing the disturbances within the form yet keeping them contained. The graceful material of glass is contrasted with harsh interferences, seeking to disrupt the narrative of perfection within glass art.

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Bronwyn’s work challenges notions of beauty often associated with glass. Although including playful elements of colour and form, her work tackles the jarring and often necessary medical procedures required for a chronically ill body. Driven by ongoing material investigation, her practice led research incorporates multiple studio glass processes, often in unconventional ways. Her exposure to various methods of using glass and her eagerness to push the material defines her practice. Bronwyn’s current series of work features anthropomorphic blown glass forms with non-glass inclusions. E

Exploring materials found in a studio environment but not typically used in conjunction with hot glass, Bronwyn’s work explores this material interaction as a way to reference the intervention between the body and medical apparatus. She creates ambivalence between the graceful material of glass and harsh interferences into the surface. Her practice seeks to realise the potential for transformation in these moments of pain.

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Vessel Project

June 1- July 29

The Vessel Project is an exploration of the vessel en masse, as imagined by Melbourne’s most creative practitioners. The showcase continues the examination of modern amphorae in Jugs, and celebrates Craft's curatorial collaboration with the NGV for Vessels – now showing as part of Melbourne Now at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. 

Read about the exhibition. 

Material: blown glass.

Dimensions:  12 x 23 x 17cm

Photography: Henry Trumble