‘Then and Now: Representations in Glass’ showcases Denis O’Connor’s early hand-blown glasswork through to recent explorations in his current studio practice.
Denis O’Connor, Eroded form I, 1982, free-blown, sandblasted glass
O’Connor’s early works are characteristic of a pioneering period for furnace glassblowing during the 1970s and 1980s, a time when artists’ emphasised an aesthetical outcome. These works were created with a sound knowledge of technical and manual skill and for O’Connor, the free-blown vessel provided a platform for experimentation. His recent works – experimental drawings, with engraved and scratched glass pieces – are inspired by his time spent in Canada, stemming from memory and emotional connection to the landscape.
‘I am fitting glass into my ideas when required rather than fitting my ideas into glass.’ – O’Connor
Denis O’Connor, Landscape 13, mixed media, engraved and scratched glass on board
Wagga Wagga Art Gallery
14 December, 2018 to 10 March, 2019
New South Wales
