The seductive calligraphy of glass.
The radiant glass art by Bjorn Weckstrom is like a seduction in to the realm of beauty. The artist has described the material as enticing, yet difficult. There is no bargaining for the conditions of glass. Molten glass has to be worked instantly, knowing its limits and possibilities - "write" intuitively!Natural forms emerging, such as "horns" and "teeth" among others, are shapes Mr. Weckstrom has used and altered in much of his work. The "teeth" may weight as much as ten kilograms, approaching the limits of what can be achieved with this technology.
Larger works - such as "Totem" and the "Gate" - have been created by assembling them from smaller parts. The importance of the moment does by no means eliminate the inclusion of different levels of meaning.
Large horns, teeth, jaws, poles and gates and also charged with archaic images of the human subconscious. They can be analysed according to both Freudian interpretations, as well as the principles of aesthetics. The "half substance" of the glass is particularly interesting to Mr. Weckstrom - one can make glass translucent or opaque. He often uses a core, or heart,made out of coloured glass, which is embedded into transparent glass. The transparency
creates a fascinating bridge between the core and the surrounding space - in a similar way as in the works of acrylic resin in the 70's. The floating feeling of being underwater insinuates the womb, as well as outer space. The sculptures do not only express a visual language their sensuality attracts to intimacy, to touch. The intuitive feel of materials and forms is like understanding by using the hands - getting a grip of the world.
The Big Tales of the Bronze
Bronze, according to the artist, is quite labour intensive, yet submissive as a material, allowing for endless diversity and richness in the surface and form, as well as for sizes ranging from miniatures to monuments.
The epic nature is pertaining to bronze. Numerous form of expression and effects are possible, along with surface structures ranging from roughness to mirror-like smoothness, from intricate shapes to simplicity, from dark to light. The initial works alternate between softness and strong dynamism. The strength of the works lie in the charged inner nature of the sculptures, rather than in being aggressive and confrontational.
