Kumano Kodo by Tim Rawlinson
9 - 21 November 2018
Tim joined London Glassblowing as a new graduate from the glass department at Bucks University in 2011 and quickly showed his talent through his development of forms which exploited colour and light. His highly acclaimed Echoes of Light series has been extremely successful.
ECHOES OF LIGHT
Tim visited Japan in 2014, and again in 2017, when he walked the Kumano Kodo, an ancient sacred pilgrimage route. This was a inspirational experience for him, and drawing on the Japanese belief that rocks have spirits within them, Tim has created a body of cast and blown work with a spiritual resonance. This new body of work is based on a new hybrid technique combining blown elements within cast glass sculptural forms.
NEBULA AND TESSERACT
NEW SERIES: ESSENCE
For this exhibition, Tim has released a new series, Essence, inspired by the rocks he encountered on the Kumano Kodo route. Stones on the pilgrimage trail have interesting textures and formations often caused by the natural process of shaping by river rapids. It is believed that these rocks carry spirits within them and Tim’s series attempts to convey a sense of the intriguing colours, shapes, and spiritual essence of the stones.
JAPANESE INSPIRATIONS
Below are some images of the moss-covered rocks, manmade and natural landscapes, as well as the Kumano Kodo, meaning ancient road, that were the inspiration behind Tim’s exhibition.
Our Stories
Peter and Tim at the annual Glass Art Society Conference
Ahead of their trip to New York for the annual Glass Art Society Conference at the Corning Museum of Glass, Peter and Tim shared an insightful talk with guests at our gallery. In this special preview of the presentation they would go on to deliver at the world-renowned museum, Peter and Tim looked back on more than fifty years of creativity, craftsmanship, and community, sharing personal insights into the studio's evolution while also considering its future. From there, they headed to Corning, New York, for the conference itself!
Our Glass Community Reflect on Peter Layton
To mark fifty years of London Glassblowing, we asked artists, collaborators and friends to share what the studio has meant to them. Their answers span five decades - from first encounters at the hotshop to lifelong friendships. What emerges is a portrait of a community built around one man's vision, and the remarkable things that vision made possible.
Fifty Years of Fire: Celebrating Peter Layton and London Glassblowing
For half a century, London Glassblowing has transformed contemporary glass art - pioneering new techniques, supporting generations of artists, and establishing a studio at the forefront of innovation. This milestone year offers a moment to reflect, to reminisce, and to celebrate the extraordinary impact that has helped shape the world of glass.